Lunch of Champions

Weird Al Yankovic – Albuquerque

I had never heard this song before today, but I LOVE it!

I forgot to give Pavement a moment of silence because I’m too busy listening to the new STEPHEN MALKMUS AND THE JICKS record!

Real Emotional Trash is the snotty title of the new Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks record. The title of the record serves as a warning sign to the content. The first track, Dragonfly Pie, opens with a Deep Purple guitar swirl that is a surprising twist on an already great solo career sound that Stephen Malkmus has served up on the first three of his records. Next is Hopscotch Willie, this song is the first real demonstration of how great of a decision bringing Janet Weiss on board really was. She brings out the best in his guitar solos. He has, more than anything else, become more comfortable with branching out and trying new sounds and approaches to performing. This record is full of great guitar breakdowns and almost Phish like jamming. Janet Weiss doesn’t falter at all. She came to this party prepared with touches of Mitch Mitchell and Ginger Baker. Believe me, seeing her live with both Sleater-Kinney and as a member of the Jicks, I can tell you first hand that she is one of the best. Her drumming is imaginative and solid. Pick up Sleater-Kinney’s final record The Woods and you will know what I mean.

The title track to R.E.T is an interesting voyage. It starts slowly and frankly a bit boring than moves into another extended psychedelic jam and morphs into an up-tempo Malkmus blues. Whatever that means. It works. The song Gardenia is worth a mention. A real radio hit. This is purely Stephen being a sell out in the best way possible. Next is Elmo Delmo, one of my favorites on the record. This is another guitar heaving jam from 1967. I’m not sure that Pavement could have ever written this record. It’s fully loud and airy at the same time. Try listening to this album full blast with a fan blowing in your face.

If I were to introduce Stephen Malkmus’s solo catalog to a new listener I would do it in the very order that the records were released. His first, self titled, is a perfect gem of indie-pop impossible to forget. A fantastic first push into his new found solo realm. The second record is Pig Lib. This record is much looser. This album is more of a Pavement sounding record with simple guitar work and low key song writing. Still, his voice is so soothing and easy going that everything he writes feels “pop.” Next is Face the Truth, his first real solo record without the Jicks. This record, though panned by some, was Stephen really experimenting with sound and guitar work like he never has. Each song is totally independent from the last. And yet a can fully say that this most recent effort is his best. He comes to the board more confident than ever and with a stronger offence. I love Pavement, but I want to hear the NEXT SM and the Jicks record! Hopefully it’s not far off.

Bert and Ernie Play Death Metal

Robert Francis Live @ Epic in Minneapolis, MN on March 7, 2008

(Photo by Toby Cryns)

On Friday I hauled my trusty tape recorder over to Epic (formerly The Qwest) in downtown, Minneapolis to interview Robert Francis, an up-and-coming musician from Los Angeles. Robert is currently in the midst of his first national tour and is opening for Australian phenom, Missy Higgins.

Sitting atop our perch in the V.I.P. section of Epic, I asked Francis about the grind (and excitement) of touring and the influence of Bob Dylan. We even talked briefly about Minneapolis’ best metal band, All the Pretty Horses, over the sweet sounds of Higgins’ soundcheck. Listen to the interview below:

Francis and his 5 bandmates took the stage shortly after that interview to a rambunctious crowd of mostly high school girls and 20-something-year-old women who, presumably, were on hand to see the Aussie pop-rock superstar Higgins perform. But Francis’ silky alto voice and confidence behind the microphone easily won them over.

Moving through a set that included both Francis’s signature upbeat indie-rock songs and acoustic ballads, he and his bandmates were able to give the untested audience something to talk about. The musicianship in the band was solid with Graham Lathrop showcasing impressive depth on his pedal steel guitar while Kati O’Toole’s textured keyboard parts added an interesting fullness to the sound.

(Photo by Toby Cryns)

See more photos of Robert Francis and Missy Higgins from Friday’s show.

Avenged Sevenfold’s “A Little Piece of My Heaven”

As some of you know, Avenged Sevenfold is a mega-popular hard rock/heavy metal band with 4 full-length albums and one EP to their credit. But it wasn’t until I heard “A Little Piece of My Heaven” off their latest release that I began to think that this band was something special. The album, as a whole, is pretty damn good, but this 8-minute song has something special. Incorporating horns and strings, it is beautifully morbid, painfully pleasant, and utterly fantastic! Check it out:

Rodney Carrington

I’ve seen Rodney Carrington sing his biggest hit, “Titties and Beer“, and chuckled at the sophmoricness of the song. But “Letter To My Penis” is actually more cerebral than sophmoric, and it’s funny!