San Francisco's Enablers are more an amalgam of music and poetry than the average band. This distinction is forged primarily through the use of speech only loosely set in pattern with the music instead of sing-song verse. In a live setting - in this case New York City's Knitting Factory, at the Tap Bar - it's the words that takes the forefront, thanks to the power of front-man Pete Simonelli. Forceful and engaging, he's part storyteller, part actor, part preacher, part magician. Wildly gesticulating, crouching, jumping, thrusting his body across the stage in assorted ways, he's impossible to [...]
Getting a car was a bit of a long process for me. In actuality, it probably wasn't that long, but when you're 17 and most of your friends have cars, anything short of buying a car the minute you see it is "too long." There was a bit of a debate over the Pontiac Sunfire I wanted because it wasn't exactly a safe car. Naturally, I didn't care as much about safety, I just liked that it looked cool and even though it was used, it was new enough to have a CD player (the downside for my friends who [...]
My friend Clay makes the best mixes of anyone I know. He's also one of the best writers I know. His words are fluid and natural, holding a powerful grace and excitement. Naturally, I asked him to write a guest post for me about music of his choosing. He selected My Bloody Valentine's "Sometimes," and these are his words to go with it. When you're done reading, tell him to hurry up and update his food blog . My Bloody Valentine: "Sometimes" (download) When I was [...]
One of the most astounding things about art, and especially music, is the way a self-centered thought or experience contained in a medium can ignite a chain reaction of independent yet similar thought, ironically turning the originator's selfishness into a wide-spread and no-longer singular experience. It is this ability to tap into a well of personal history that keeps something like Bob Seger's "Night Moves" as a respected work, though it still gets dubbed a guilty pleasure more often than it deserves. Bob Seger: "Night Moves" (download) Seger said with [...]
In sixth-grade, I was very good friends with a guy named Gabe. He had come into our private school rather late in the game - most of us had been going to school together for years - but we became fast friends because he lived near me. I lived far outside the standard reach of our Montessori school, so living close to one of my classmates rarely happened. Male and female friendship being what it is, we spent a lot of time teasing and harassing each other. Usually we were just teasing each other about our crushes (unpredictable [...]
Amazingly enough, we've reached the two-year mark here at T-Sides. I say amazingly because as any avid blog reader/writer will tell you, blogs - and music blogs in particular - tend to have a short shelf life. After many unsuccessful brainstorms and attempts, T-Sides will not, in any foreseeable future, be implementing any sort of regular features beyond those that already exist. It would help the blog attract more readers, it would help you know when to come back, but ultimately, it's just not part of what T-Sides has been about. Originally, it was hard to [...]
The Anniversary's "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" is exactly the kind of song that I began "Lost MP3 of the Week" for. However, it's a music journalist's nightmare. The Anniversary: "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" (download) This is partly because I'm not sure how I came across the song. It was, in all probability, something I heard from a friend or a website when Emo was in that awkward stage between what it was originally - more angry, more screamy, an unsurprising descendent of punk - to what [...]
A Joanna Newsom album has never sounded as good as she did when she played at the Brooklyn Academy of Music last Thursday. Even the most middling of fans, the most ardent of critics, could not possibly have walked away unswayed by the remarkable skill and charm she emanated throughout the evening. Accompanied by the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the emphasis of the performance was Ys , her critically-acclaimed collaboration with Van Dyke Parks from 2006. Painstakingly unique, it was a cultish hit. Most reacted with one extreme or another, slathering it with hyperbolic praise or disdain (yours truly [...]
Among the many reasons why I love Two Gallants, one of the most prominent is the way their songs feel alive, as if they posses minds of their own. Stephens recently told Sentimentalist , "I'm constantly changing things in the songs, even live." It shows, in both live and recorded versions of their work. The more I go to shows and listen to the songs in their different stages, the more each song seems like a person, growing and evolving in its own ways. A stunning example of this is "All Your Faithless Loyalties," [...]
If there's one major aspect of the rise of hipster irony (which seems to be, basically - so bad/ridiculous/awkward it's good!) that I appreciate, it's what it's done for cheesy music. "Africa" by Toto, for example, is now widely played and appreciated by countless 20-somethings. Go ahead and cringe, but let's face it: you liked it once upon a time, too, if you don't (secretly) still. I even bet that this mention of it will make you want to listen to it in the not too distant future. You scoff now, but soon enough, that refrain will taunt [...]
Now that I'm done with 2007, it's time to turn our attention towards 2008, which I've sorely neglected for these past two weeks, though not out of spite. With the start of 2008 came the start of PopDose , a smart, uninhibited blog about all things pop culture and even a few things not. There's a vast arsenal of talented writers, including yours truly, who's been given the ominous title of New Music Editor. PopDose will be hosting my Lost MP3 of the Week feature (though I'll still have it on here, [...]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =sRYvHYxezzk I'm not sure how I feel about the song... last I checked, Goldfrapp was dancier, sexier. This almost feels a little too new-age. That said, the video is fantastic. Goldfrapp: "A & E" (download)
There's something so beautifully painful about "Gonna Take a Miracle." In a way, she sounds almost happy about the hurt that her lover's leaving has caused her. It's a jubilant, upbeat song, and yet, she's upset. Laura Nyro: "Gonna Take a Miracle" (download) It captures such a particular point in time, such a particular feeling. It's an odd thought, finding joy in the misery of love. Is it because that's how we know love: when we are willing to suffer so much in its name? A quote jumps to mind, [...]
Where "best" = albums that were not only significant from a critical standpoint, but that I actually, truly, really listened to. A lot. 10. Jay-Z , American Gangster You're completely, utterly surprised , right? Believe it or not, this spot was the hardest. It was almost Devendra Banhart, Kanye West, Beirut... At first, American Gangster was completely underwhelming. Refusing to give up on Hova, I listened again, then I listened again. By the third or fourth time around, I was re-enamored, and American [...]
where "worst" = Top 5 albums I just couldn't get into this year, no matter how hard (or little) I tried. 5. The National , Boxer It's his voice. It's also the inaccurate Springsteen references (can we please stop trying so hard to find people to carry the Springsteen torch? we really don't need to find "the next Bruce Springsteen" just yet - why is everyone in such a rush?). Everyone talks about how this is one of those albums that grows on you, and maybe [...]
I refuse to whittle this down to just 10 shows. There were just too many standouts from this year, and all of them deserve to be recognized even if it means the defiance of a pretty number. 12. Kyp Malone @ Zublon, Jan. 31st Kyp Malone is a member of TV on the Radio, one of the most incredible bands of this decade. That he would put on a fabulous solo show is more or less a given. Read the full T-Sides review here [...]
More often that not, Best Albums of 2007 lists have a lot of overlap with Best Songs of 2007 lists. To make things more interesting - for both of us - instead of a list of the 10 best songs overall (many of them would be on my 10 best albums), this is a list of the 10 best songs that are not from albums on my 10 best albums list. 10: Bright Eyes: "Make A Plan To Love Me" (download) [...]
I'm working on my Best of 2007 lists, so just you wait. They'll slowly start appearing up here over the next couple days or so. In the meantime, check out this featurette on the upcoming Death Cab for Cutie album. Exciting! Irma Thomas: "Time Is On My Side" (download)
Like a talent sandwich of sorts, Papertrigger was the filling center of an otherwise "meh" line-up consisting of the Diggs (unremarkable standard indie pop fare with stalkeresquely creepy lyrics) and Most Serene Republic (who started off strong but blended into repetition far too quickly). The relatively young Philly band (both in terms of the band's age and the members') spiced up a late-late show, held back due to unfavorable weather. Playing the songs from their recently released Riot Lovers EP, as well as new material, their loud, full, diversely epic sound filled the room as though [...]
Thanks to all who voted in the Hey! Nielsen Best Music Blog contest. T-Sides made it into the Top 20 ! Congrats to the other winers, which include T-Sides reads like Brooklyn Vegan , Gorilla vs. Bear and My Kentucky Blog . Led Zeppelin: "Thank You" (download)
T-Sides
Check Out: d’Eon – “Transparency pt. II”
the Weekender ::: New music from Catcall // the National // Summer Camp
KNIFE PARTY – RAGE VALLEY EP
