This Week in Great Music: 12/14 – 12-20

Sarah — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:10:54 +0000

My musical week can be pretty easily summed up in two words: Andrew Bird. For everyone else who isn’t as enthralled as I am at the prospect of watching Mr. Bird do his thing in a church, or who couldn’t get tickets, here’s the rest of what I find interesting this week in Chicago. But I’ve got to admit, it looks like anyone I would find even vaguely interesting has chosen to steer clear of Chicago for the beginning part of the week. No complaints here; with the exception of missing out on the Metric show (which, being at the Cubby Bear, I would have just complained about the entire time), I’m not seeing anything that I’m too heartbroken to miss.

Also: Our Lady Peace? Sister Hazel? No, seriously, what’s up with the 90s band resurgence here? I’m starting to get a little concerned.

I am a bit sad about missing out on the greatness that is Second City’s 24-Hour benefit show, which I’m missing out on more because of not being able to leave the day job just to go to concerts. But it should be a great time, and the money goes to provide presents for needy children in Chicago.

Monday, December 14
Andrew Bird, Fourth Presbyterian Church (126 E Chestnut). 8 pm, $15 (audio only; all other seats sold out)

Tuesday, December 15
Jeff Tweedy, Second City (1608 N Wells). $15 for 24-hour admission, 7 pm
The Bravery, Manchester Orchestra, and As Tall As Lions, House of Blues. 7:30 pm, $23-26
Andrew Bird, Fourth Presbyterian Church (126 E Chestnut). 8 pm, $15 (audio only; all other seats sold out)

Wednesday, December 16
Bonnie Prince Billy, Second City (1608 N Wells). $15 for 24-hour admission, 6 am
Nina Nastasia, Second City (1608 N Wells). $15 for 24-hour admission, 12 pm
The Mountain Goats, Second City (1608 N Wells). $15 for 24-hour admission, 2 pm
Andrew Bird, Fourth Presbyterian Church (126 E Chestnut). 8 pm, $15 (audio only; all other seats sold out)
Chicago Clarinet Conglomerate, The Velvet Lounge (67 E Cermak). 8:30 pm, cover varies
Metric, Cubby Bear (1059 W Addison). 9 pm, $10

Thursday, December 17
Andrew Bird, Fourth Presbyterian Church (126 E Chestnut). 8 pm, $35-40
Our Lady Peace, Cubby Bear (1059 W Addison). 9 pm, $10

Friday, December 18
Kathleen Battle and the Chicago Children’s Choir, Harris Theater (205 E Randolph). 7:30 pm, $45-95
Sister Hazel and Tony Lucca, House of Blues. 9 pm, $25-26.50

Saturday, December 19
The Klezmatics, Centre East (9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie). 8 pm, $48
Sister Hazel and Tony Lucca, House of Blues. 9 pm, $25-26.50

Sunday, December 20
Apollo Chorus of Chicago presents Handel’s Messiah. Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph). 3 pm, $35-50
Dasboton, Hideout. 9 pm, $8

Guest Post: Seven Albums That Came Out in 2009 That Mike Listened To and Enjoyed the Most

Sarah — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:55:54 +0000

[ While I'm busy debating what my own Best of 2009 list will be comprised of, enjoy this guest post. It's a little different in the department of musical fare than you'll usually see offered by me. -S ]

So before you wonder if Sarah has gone all schizophrenic or just decided to listen to drastically different music than her normal mix of Andrew Bird and any number of Wainwrights, this is, in fact a guest post. My name is Mike, I’m a friend of Sarah’s from way back, and am bullying my way onto her blog ’cause it gets a whole lot more traffic than my own site, found at www.landofabsurdity.com. Most people around this time of year release their “Best Of” lists, but as I feel that I don’t listen to enough music to determine what is “Best” (other than crushing your enemies, having them driven before you, and hearing the lamentations of the women). So without further introductions and shameless plugs, I give you, in no particular order, the:

Seven Albums That Came Out in 2009 That Mike Listened To and Enjoyed the Most

Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
When I first heard that Franz Ferdinand was writing a “disco” album, I was preparing for the worst. I mean anytime a band sets out to make a certain type of album, it usually is a flop. What I didn’t realize was that Franz Ferdinand’s brand of garage rock set to a new wave beat works perfectly if you just throw in a few more keyboards. Also, as if Tonight: Franz Ferdinand wasn’t a great enough album, they decided to rework the entire thing into a Dub album as well. There was never a Sgt Pepper Dub album.

Tonight was released on January 26 by Sony.
Official website | Myspace
Purchase the album here.

The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die
I used to think that The Fat of the Land was the best electronic album ever made, but then The Prodigy decided to all get back together and put out Invaders Must Die, and now The Fat of the Land seems dated and almost unlistenable. Invaders Must Die is the best thing to come out of the world of electronica in a very long time (or at least since Does It Offend You, Yeah? came on the scene).

Invaders Must Die was released on March 3rd by RED Distribution.
Official website | Myspace | Twitter
Purchase the album here.

Paper Route – Absence
Now when you think of a musical act from Nashville, whats the first thing that comes to your head? Exactly: ambient electro post rock. These newcomers mix vocal harmonies with keyboard noise to make huge music. They put the Awesome in Progressive Emo. Well, they would if there was an A in Progressive Emo, I guess that segue doesn’t really work. In any case, you should check out Paper Route, they have the balls to put on acoustic sets right out on the street after their shows, whether the cops are called, babies are awakened or not. Also, they love pancakes.

Absence was released on April 28th by Universal.
Official website | Myspace | Twitter
Purchase the album here.

Miike Snow – Miike Snow
So what do you get when you mix up some piano driven rock, add some reggae beats, and crank up those synthesizers? You get Miike Snow. No, that’s not a typo. It’s a band from Sweden. And we all know how much I love Swedish bands… especially Swedish Bands who make reggae influenced electronic music. But Miike Snow is leagues beyond Ace of Base and Dr. Alban. Also, they have excellent DJ bobs.

Miike Snow was released on June 9th by Downtown.
Myspace
Purchase the album here.

Devin Townsend Project – Ki/Addicted
Ziltoid The Omniscient made this list a two years ago, so it’s no surprise Devin makes it again. These albums are the first half of a four album series, each one completely different but I’m counting them as one. Ki hits you with ambient music, much more prog than his traditional noise and screaming. Trainfire is also a neat track, along with Quiet Riot which harkens to the band of that name. Addicted is less prog and more europop, but with Devy’s fingerprints all over it. Think Vengaboys with a lot more screaming! Plus there is a souped up version of Hyperdrive! from Ziltoid. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why DTP makes the list.

Ki was released May 25th by HevyDevy. Addicted was released November 17th by HevyDevy.
Official website | Myspace | Twitter
Purchase the albums here.

K’Naan – Troubadour
When I saw K’Naan at Lollapalooza in ’08 he was great, but a niche act. Rhythmic Angry Black Man Rapping over top of a stripped down band does not appeal to everyone. But then Troubadour came out and polished his style into something even better. In an age where rap seems to be about drinking Crystal in the hotel room, it’s nice to hear messages again.

Troubadour was released on February 24th by A&M/Octone.
Official website | Myspace | Twitter
Purchase the album here.

The Bravery – Stir the Blood
Dancing on the dark side of the disco ball is never an easy thing to pull off, but the Bravery continue their streak of awesome with their third album. The album is nowhere near as depressing as The Sun and the Moon and may in fact rival Exciter as the soundtrack to my sex life.

Stir the Blood was released on December 1st by Island.
Official website | Myspace | Twitter
Purchase the album here.

Honorable Mentions Go To:

Dream Theater – Black Clouds and Silver Linings
The jury is still out on whether Dream Theater is back or if this was just a flash in the pan.

The Lonely Island – Incredibad
Comedy albums will always be novelty music, but I’m On a Boat is pretty much just a rap song with no novelty about it.
[And proving that the Grammys continue to try to be relevant but only succeed in unintentional hilarity, "I'm On a Boat" just got a Grammy nod for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. I'm rooting for this one, all the way. -S]

Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.
This album is super catchy, and samples the best part of Rob Base, but I just don’t think it has lasting power.

Also, I’m not going to leave you without a pick for worst album of the year. That honor goes toTrans-Siberan Orchestra for Night Castle. Cheesy orchestrations may work for yuppies who buy Christmas music, but when that formula is put to use on a Non-Christmas album, you get absolute crap. Even the inclusion of Believe is trite. They would have been better off making a suite of When the Crowds are Gone, Believe and Alone You Breathe, I think that’s what every Sava-fan wants anyways. I was hoping this album was going to be more Savatage and less cheese, but I guess they’re too old to rock and roll. Their idea of giving a more Sava-feel to the album is just putting instrumentals from other Savatage albums onto this one, albeit under new names. Gone is 5 part counter melody and in its place is “Childhood Childhood Childhood Childhood Childhood.” It truly is an audio train wreck!

How's My Living? » the bravery

This Week in Great Music: 12/14 – 12-20

Guest Post: Seven Albums That Came Out in 2009 That Mike Listened To and Enjoyed the Most