Arcade Fire - Neon Bible Review

Arcade Fire want to explode into your home. They want to burst in to your iPod and make every other album you own obsolete.

They try to grab a hold of everything on this album. The song topics and lyrics are huge. The subjects include life, death, love, hate, religion, politics, and all sorts of points in between.

Do they get it done? The answer is, sort of and God love them for trying. This album will not change the world, or your life, it is just a great album that knows what it is and tries to reach deeper than the rest of the crowd around it.

I have listened to this album a few times and the other night I went through the record track by track.

1. Black Mirror – A droning, dark track with a 2 word chorus the same as the title. This song feels David Bowie-ish to me. There's a sensuality to this track that the band has not touched on before. As far as openers go, it does not slam you against the wall. It just gets your attention and makes you want to hear the rest of what the band has to say.
   
   
2. Keep The Car Running – Driving beat, ready for the arena. Very Springsteen in both lyric content and in musical feel (which runs throughout the album). This is where the band wants you to know that they are going for something big. You can dance to this song and it feels very alive. Just like the best Springsteen stuff, it sounds very American.
   
   
3. Neon Bible - Four on the floor kick drum and repeating acoustic guitar riff. The album pulls back as soon as it looks like it will take flight. Of all the tracks on this record, I found myself singing the line “neon bible – not much chance for survival” over and over after I finished listening. The song is short at just over 2 minutes.
   
   
4. Intervention – An absolute WALL of pipe organ greats you in this song and the first line is “the king’s taking back the throne.” One word describes this song, Unafraid. The title is perfect for this song. The band is warning you. Don’t give in to convention, don’t be afraid, don’t follow the rules or “every spark of friendship and love will die without a home.”
   
   
5. Black Waves/Bad Vibrations – This song is split in to two parts. The first bit is lead by Régine and is a bit of a mis-step. Not in that it is bad, but Win’s voice is just so fantastic that I miss hearing it all the way through this tune. At 1:40 the tempo changes and Win takes over singing again and the song breaks the concrete as it lands on the ground. The beat pounds in your chest and the angels sing in the distance. This is my least favorite song on the record but it is still strong.
   
   
6. Ocean of Noise – A 50’s surf song drum beat and bass line are the foundations of this song. This song gets you ready for the second half of the record where the album really set's off. The outro sounds like ghosts covering the E Street Band.
   
   
7. The Well And The Lighthouse – Bang. The second half begins. The fastest tempo track on the record. “Heaven is only in my head” Win shouts and the band takes off. No band is doing this better right now than Arcade Fire. It feels like life and death hangs in the balance on this one before salvation comes in the form of a fifties music drum beat and guitar progression.
   
   
8. Antichrist Television Blues – An acoustic guitar introduces this song that again, sounds like the best of the boss. “Don’t wanna work in a building down town” is repeated and the song has the sound of the lost Midwest. This one just floors me. It’s not easy to put your heart on your sleeve on record and pure heart is being poured out all through this whole song.
   
   
9. Windowsill – Got up and got a beer in-between these two songs. The intense lyrics throughout this song make it my favorite. This song is rebellion. A rejection of everything and everyone around you. “MTV what have you done to me, save my soul and set me free.” Hell yeah.
   
   
10. No Cars Go – “No cars go where we know.” A lyric line that is open to your own interpretation like “where the streets have no name.” The drum beat and horns sound like Broken Social Scene and the strings propel the song along. The closing statement of the album like Rebellion (lies) was for funeral. The next song is a Post Script.
    
    
11. My Body Is A Cage – The opposite statement of the previous song. The last song says let’s go, we’re free, let’s get out of here, but this song says “my body is a cage that keeps me from dancing with the one I love.” The song builds and builds until it climaxes when the band, an organ, string and horns all come crashing in. The song and album, end in a prayer. “Stay next to me, my mind holds the key, set my spirit free, set my spirit free, set my body free, set my body free”
    

This is really a brilliant record. Not even close to perfect, but it exceeds the expectations I had for a follow up from this band. This will no doubt be near the top of my year end list.

Thanks Natalie Portman

It seemed like only yesterday Natalie handed Zach those headphones and told him that the shins would change his life. A few seconds of New Slang and the tool from Scrubs said "I like it." I guess quite a few people agreed.

The Shins new album "Wincing The Night Away" has debuted at #2 with sales totaling 117,991. I never would have guessed that this band would ever debut that high. Imagine what it would have been if the album hadn't of leaked months ago? I've been listening to my copy for a long time now.

This band has allowed me a lot of great elitist moments since Garden State got popular on video. I could attack people on two fronts:
#1 They would say, "have you heard of this new band, the shins? They're good." to which I could sarcastically reply, "They are not a new band and yes, I know."

#2 They would say "I rented this movie Garden State last night, it was so cool." to which I would scowl and say, "yea, actually I saw that in the theater on opening night."

Two responses that would make Rob Gordon very proud I think.

Neon Bible - Arcade Fire

I couldn't resist. I have given in to temptation and downloaded a leaked copy of the new Arcade Fire album, "Neon Bible."

I have only listened to the album once, but so far I really like it. It's so different from their first album "Funeral," but still retains their signature feel.

I haven't had time to really absorb it yet, but I hope to listen to it several times over the next couple of days. I am going to try and post a track by track review sometime this week.

Is this band over-hyped? Yes. Are they gonna save rock and roll or any other grandiose crap like that? No. But I have been looking forward to this record and it does not disappoint so far.

Eno + Coldplay = ?

Brian Eno is currently at work with Coldplay, producing their next album. He was interviewed for BBC Radio 4 over the weekend and said the new album was “very original and very different from what they’ve done before.”

I'll admit I once hated Coldplay. I used to call them Radiohead-Lite. But now when I look at the pop music landscape, compared to most other bands on the radio/charts, Coldplay is damn good.

Eno is one of the most brilliant musical minds ever. He will not put up with the mediocrity or overly sentimental crap that this band has given in to in the past.

I remember before the last Coldplay album came out the band said something about the album being different and experimental but it was obviously not. It was a step forward for the band, but it was not the revolution to their sound that they claimed it would be. But if Brian Eno says your album is very original and different from what you've done in the past, I'm inclined to believe him. I am officially excited to hear this record.

Dick Cheney vs. Nancy Pelosi: The Blink-Off

Cheney - Ever vigilant, ever alert, never blinking.

What Kind Of Company Am I Working For?

Check out the typo on this AT&T bill that just arrived at the company I work for, "Humanscale." What the heck would this company do?

Sleeping At Last

Sleeping At Last "Keep No Score"

I can't stop listening to this album over the last couple of days. It is just so romantic and beautiful. Everything on this album is where it should be and every melody will break your heart and make you smile. I don't know if this is one of those records that hits you hard at first then fades into the back ground or if it will keep hitting me in the guts. But for now I am just enjoying every listen.

Check out some of their music on Myspace

Forbes Top Money Earners 2006

Forbes has released their list of the top money earners in music in 2006.

01. The Rolling Stones ($150.6 million)
02. Tim McGraw / Faith Hill ($132 million)
03. Rascal Flatts ($110.5 million)
04. Madonna ($96.8 million)
05. Barbra Streisand (95.8 million)
06. Kenny Chesney ($90.1 million)
07. Celine Dion ($85.2 million)
08. Bon Jovi ($77.5 million)
09. Nickelback ($74.1 million)
10. Dave Matthews Band ($60.4 million)

I did not buy anything from any of these bands this year. The only one I even LISTENED to was the Stones and that was a albums released nearly 40 years ago. This list has brought the following questions to my kojak/moby head:

Am I that out of touch with the rest of America?

How can a band that sucks as powerfully as Nickelback make nearly 100 mil?

Do people really listen to this crap?

and finally...
DO PEOPLE REALLY LISTEN TO THIS CRAP

A Celebration Of Life

It was only a matter of time until money talked louder than ego. Van Halen will be touring with none other than David Lee Roth fronting the band. Let us all celebrate the return of Diamond Dave. Check out the stage presence, he OWNS this band.

Bush Vs Pelosi

"Go ahead, use both hands, I'm going over the top bitch."

Dinosaur Jr!!

Dinosaur Jr. will be releasing a reunion, full length album, "Beyond." The album comes out May 1st on Fat Possum records. The record was produced by John Agnello. I can't wait to hear this. According to a press release, it's both "some of the best music Dinosaur Jr. have ever made" and "an adrenaline-inducing ride, not of nostalgia, but of bona fide excitement." I am so excited! Hopefully it is not a let down and it leaks soon! Now let's just get that MBV reunion record!

What A Freaking Nightmare!!

We come in to work this morning and the powers out. They have us sitting around doing nothing for the first 2 hours. Finally they tell us that they are closing the office and we can leave. We get half way to Josh's house and they call us and tell us to turn around, the power's come back on.

On top of that, my supervisors (who must be simultaneously PMS-ing) start yelling at me as soon as we get back in over absolutely asinine stuff that is THEIR fault not mine.

I feel like screaming I am so pissed off right now. I am not going to do anything for the rest of the day. I don't give a crap.

Behold The Argyle!!

Some How, This Makes Me Feel Better

Brittney Spears has downs. Those of you who disagree with me, just look at this photo of her and her latest empty head with a dick attached (I mean boyfriend).

Not that she is good looking, but why the hell does she keep dating these guys? Does she just wonder into McDonalds at 3 a.m. high on meth and take the assistant manager home with her?

Why does her failure make me feel better? She has spent more money on shoes then I have made in my life. Still this pic was a ray of sunshine today so I'm not gonna fight it.

January 22nd

One of my co-workers just told me that today has been scientifically proven as the most depressing day of the year. Maybe that's my problem. It has nothing to do with my decisions or life as of late...my anger/depression is a scientific inevitability today.

What's My Problem??

I don't know why, but I woke up pissed off this morning. I am racking my brain trying to figure out the reasoning behind this but so far I have no idea. I had a good weekend. Spent lots of time with my wife, had a lot of fun and I went to bed in a good mood last night. Woke up pissed off though.

Everything and everyone around me is annoying right now. I just want to be by myself and listen to some music. Hopefully my mood will improve through the day.

Pitchfork

Pitchfork Media. Hordes of hipsters, hipster wannabe's, music lovers and scenesters visit the site everyday including me (I'm not sure what category I fall in). Everyday the site's influence on music and the music industry gets stronger and stronger. But how credible is the site? Who made them the ultimate authority in music taste?

If you read the site you know the formula for a good album according to Pitchfork. One part indie, plus one part creative, plus one part weirdo divided by the amount of hipster cred you will lose if it is a "major" band. A sure fire way to get a good review is to have all three of the elements above plus be some completely unheard of Japanese Noise Funk Screamo Art House band where all of the lyrics are in a special backwards speak that only the band understands. Or be Radiohead. Radiohead could record an hour of the band butchering chickens and pitchfork would give it a 9.2.

Now I will admit that I have found some great music because of the site. There are A LOT of bands out there that put out amazing music that goes unheard. As sites like Pitchfork gain influence they gain power to bring truly great music to a larger audience. But lately I feel like they are squandering it on stuff that's just plain odd and difficult.

I will let the site speak for itself. Here are albums that pitchfork collectively raves about like soccer moms with Bon Jovi. These were their top 3 albums of 2006.

3. Joanna Newsom - Vs. Weird music, eccentric vocals, dreadful "fairytale" lyrics. Sounds like another winner folks! I like music. I am not an elitist, but when most people look at my music collection their eye's glaze over and confusion sets in. That being said, I am convinced that there is no way that anyone actually enjoyed this album on a musical level. They liked it because of the scene they are in, or because pitchfork told them to.

2. Tv On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain. No Matter what this band does, they love it. Not only do they love it, they worship it, sacrifice small mammals to it and swear eternal allegiance to the afro. The truth is, this band is weird for the sake of weird. Breaking no ground that's worth breaking or that is interesting. Rather than PROGRAM a drum machine I could randomly hit buttons and call it a song, but that doesn't make it provocative...it makes it pretentious and weird.

1. The Knife - Silent Shout. I will be honest. I don't mind this band, but #1 Album of the year for 2006? Please. This is a kinda weird, abstract electronic band that is interesting but "Silent Shout" should MAYBE only crack the top 30 albums of 2006. If you are a scene kid who likes X, this blew your mind otherwise you heard it and went, "huh, interesting. Why is the voice so strange?"

I used to be a slave to pitchfork. If they said an album was good I would download it and listen to it over and over again to try and "get" it. But my eyes have been opened, the chains have fallen from my hands and the shackles are at my feet. Music is personal, if YOU like it, who cares what pitchfork says? That being said, I will visit the site tomorrow and everyday this week. Don't want to fall behind on what's hip..you know?

Thank God

I am so glad we will not have to put up with another year of the Patriots in the Super Bowl. I know out of the Pats and the Colts I should like the Pats. They are a "blue collar" team who, despite not looking very good on paper, keep getting it done. Manning and the Colts are the offensive high paid juggernaut. But the Patriots are BORING.

As always, I will watch the Superbowl for the adds, if I even watch it. Not to mention a Prince halftime show. I am hoping for a Colts win and a butt-less pair of pants on Prince. What does that say about me?

The First Album I Ever Owned

This was the very first album I ever called my own. My Uncle owned a christian bookstore and gave me the cassette tape of Steve Taylor's christian new wave classic, "On The Fritz." I listened to it so much that the J-card insert was completely destroyed and all of the print on both sides of the tape was worn away. There was a scratch on one side though so I knew which side was which. It met it's demise in my dad's Maroon Mercury Le Grande. Completely eaten in the tape deck.

I've often tried to remember my first record and today it hit me like a bolt of lightening. Check out the chorus to the classic Taylor song "Lifeboat." They don't write them like this anymore:

throw over grandpa 'cause he's getting pretty old
throw out the baby, or we'll all be catching it's cold
throw over fatty and we'll see if she can float
throw out the retard, and he won't be rockin' the boat

Lunch Room...Occupied

Some chad is being interviewed and so we can't get in and have lunch...seriously, eff him

Would I Vote For This Man??

Sen. Barack Obama will be filing the necessary paperwork to begin a presidential campaign today. Here's a quote from him: "I didn't expect to find myself in this position a year ago. I've been struck by how hungry we all are for a different kind of politics. So I spent some time thinking about how I could best advance the cause of change and progress we so desperately need."

My interest is beginning to stir for the upcoming elections. I am not the kind of person who feels the need to follow strict party lines, but I typically have voted Republican in the past. I feel I have always voted for whoever I felt was the best person for the job and I will do that again during these elections.

I once sat in a church service and the pastor said that "I'm not going to tell you who to vote for, but I just can't see how you can call yourself a Christian and vote for a Democrat." Religion has nothing to do with politics and vice versa. Also as much as I am pro-life, I don't realistically think that is a good enough reason to vote, or not vote for someone.

Here are some of the major issues that I will base my decision on:

• Iraq - I want to hear reasonable, sound ideas, not "Iraq's a mess and I will fix it" or, "I'll bring our troops home."

• Immigration - As someone with first hand knowledge and experience with American Immigration, I can say without a doubt that it is a joke, not to mention a great security risk and financial burden.

• Education - Our education system is bad. I worked with teenagers for 8 years and most of them could barely read or do simple math equations. Throwing money at the problem does nothing.

We'll see what happens. I hope for good things for America in the years to come, and the decision on who our next president will be is very important.

Blades Of Glory

This Would Be Amazing

So Kevin Shields says they will make a new My Bloody Valentine Record:

"We are 100% going to make another My Bloody Valentine record unless we die or something. I'd feel really bad if I didn't make another record. Like, shit, people only got the first two chapters, but the last bit is the best bit. It's just that it's taken me such an oddly long time for that to happen."

Loveless is one of the most brilliant albums I've ever heard so a follow-up would be incredible. I'm not gonna hold my breath though cause these things have a way of never happening. But if it does...the indie music world will collectively poop it's pants with hype.

God Help Me To Begin...

Why is it so hard to express yourself? The real you. The inside you. The part that's true. I am always saying what I am supposed to. I am always feeling how I should when so many times I look inside of myself and see something completely different.

Maybe it's because it's just easier to lie. It's a faster way to communicate...it's a shortcut. Real emotions, real feelings are hard. I feel like I am constantly talking but never saying anything because if I said something wrong, that would be bad.

My whole life I have been trying to be perfect. To never make mistakes. To always be the person everyone loves. But I can't live this way anymore. I have to come to the surface and breathe or this ocean of pressure will crunch me.

My life. My evolution. My journey. My feelings. My words. God help me to begin.....

Soundtrack For 0 Degrees And Solitude

Been Listening to Lisa Germano "In The Maybe World" today...it's freezing cold outside and my wife isn't feeling very well so I am just hanging out by myself. This album is beautiful and perfect.

First Mobile Blog

My first mobile blog! Too bad Hosh is in it. Ha ha ha.

Trent Reznor On Current Music/Emo Trends...

I'm glad it's not just me...

“Emo screamo!” he ranted in an oddly Dr. Seussian style. “If I happen to accidentally turn the radio on…I literally can’t tell the difference between one of 20 bands,” said a clearly exasperated icon. “Either I’m getting old, which is a fact, or I’m turning into my dad! I wonder about the person that’s in a band, the young kid who just got signed or is trying to get signed - why is he doing it? Is he trying to change the world and do something different and express himself…or is it because they want to fuck Paris Hilton and be photographed outside trendy restaurants?”

The funny thing is that "Rez" looks really emo in the picture.

Bloc Party Leak

Last night I snatched up a leak of the new Bloc Party album, "A Weekend In The City." I listened to it on the way in to work and so far, I like it.

There's a little less emphasis on the whole "dance" side of their music and more focus on atmosphere which I really like. The dance beats are still there so you can still move to it.

They are kind of a trendy, scenester band (aka, lots of scene kids will buy this album and never reallty LISTEN to it) but I don't care, I like it.

First Blog in 2007

So much has happened since my last post showcasing a pouting Hosh.

Liv and I had our first Christmas as man and wife. It was a lot of fun. The best thing about being married is having your best friend sharing everything with you. Our pal Josh "guttermouth" Mickelson came along with us too. (I call him guttermouth because of a past misunderstanding between his myspace blog and my parents. ha ha ha). Had a good time and ate way to much food. Josh and I had about half a dozen bathroom trips each within 12 hours of the meal. Rock & roll!

The new year has been really exciting so far. Our old pastors Ross & Kathy offered us a job a their church in Gold Coast, Australia. It's exciting and scary at the same time. We are praying about what we should do and seeking God's direction.

One really cool thing for me over the holidays was the unlimited downloading available at Oink!. I downloaded over a hundred albums in the span of about 2 weeks. I gorged myself at the free music trough and now I am hopelessly addicted. I haven't even listened to everything that I've downloaded yet....why do I feel the need to have albums in my collection that I haven't listened to? Sometimes I feel like that person who has all the American literature classics on the shelf but hasn't read any of them. They just want a complete library...it's a social status thing.

I have been writting a ton lately and really exploring new ways to cultivate and work on new ideas. I bought a book "How to write better lyrics" and it has had some really great tips for me that have kind of liberated me as a songwriter. I think I am growing as well...at least I hope so.

2007 is gonna be the best year of my life, but it's gonna be crazy. Can't wait for tomorrow.