White Stripes - Wilmington, DE - 07.27.07

Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground / You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) / Cannon \\ John the Revelator / Catch Hell Blues / Hotel Yorba / I'm Finding it Harder to be a Gentleman / Truth Doesn't Make a Noise / I Think I Smell a Rat \\ Screwdriver / I Fought Piranhas / Icky Thump / In the Cold, Cold Night / Same Boy You've Always Known / Hardest Button to Button / Slowing Turning Into You / Black Math / Wasting My Time / We're Going to be Friends / 300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues / Seven Nation Army / Apple Blossom / Ugly as I Seem / I Just Don't Know What to do with Myself / Boll Weevil

Recommendations

It's been halfway through the year so far and I haven't really posted much at all recently and I felt like it was time to post something so I'm going to give a mid-year top ten.

1. Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times
2. Silverchair - Young Modern
3. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
4. Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City
5. Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
6. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
7. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
8. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
9. Lovedrug - Everything Starts Where It Ends
10. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

This is subject to change, I have a list of other bands that I need to spend more time with and they are as follows:
The Radio Dept., The Twilight Sad, Eluvium, The National, Arctic Monkeys, Caspian, The Besnard Lakes,The Six Parts Seven, and Andrew Bird.

Family Guy - Sesame Street

So I felt the need post this because I haven't stopped laughing for a half an hour. It's just so funny.

Flashback Friday

I just heard a Live song the other day and it sparked me to go back in time to the late 90's and give them another spin. I've always been a fan of Live. I sadly admit that I have not purchased their two most recent albums. I would like to give them a chance at some point. I think my musical tastes have evolved since the late 90's.

However, my favorite Live album has always been Secret Samadhi. This album was released on February 18, 1997. It the only Live album that I still long to hear. It's just so dark. I think probably one of the best albums I had ever heard at that point in time. At least of of the most experimental mainstream albums of the time.

I decided just tonight that I'm going to officially place Secret Samadhi in at least my Top 50 Albums of All Time.

If you missed out on it, go to amazon or half.com right now and buy it used. You can probably get it for $3. And thats WITH shipping.

Pitchfork Smashes Pumpkins

So, I was a bit shocked that Pitchfork decided to slam the new Smashing Pumpkins album, Zeitgeist. I have yet to hear it, but something tells me that it's worth more than a 4.9 out of 10. I think it just proves even further that we are living in an age where critics are almost always negative. The entire review simply talks about how the new album actually captures the sound of what the Smashing Pumpkins once were...but then it turns around to say that the album fails to reach the heights of some of their past material. Of course it does. You can't compare this new album to the feeling that hearing "1979" gave you, or how "Tonight, Tonight" once swept you away. These are new songs for a new generation. As an artist, Corgan is obviously in a different place. I think its possible for him to recapture that sound, but forgive him if he doesnt nail it right out of the gate.

The Pitchfork review for the new Spoon album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga will be up on their site tomorrow. The album is really close to perfect in every way (This Record is a HIT), and ive had it on repeat for months. But Im sure just given the indie status of the band, and the nature of Pitchfork reviews, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga will probably clock in close to a 10.0.

It's cool to like Spoon, and probably not as cool to like the Pumpkins. Gotta keep that indie cred!

Spoon Limited Edition Vinyl

The luck of 7-7-07 has found me today, but I won't brag because the day isn't over yet.

A few months back Merge announced the pre-order promotion for the new Spoon album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. The first 200 people to pre-order the album would get a limited edition 7" vinyl, autographed by the band. Of course I raced to the website to put in my pre-order, and after I got the order in, the site was still advertising the promotion. I kept my fingers crossed in hopes that I got mine in on time. I clicked over to Spoon's site, and the promotion had already been removed.

I figured that I probably didn't make the cut, but it really didn't matter. I got my order in for the album anyway, which I obviously planned on buying, so no loss if I didn't.

So here we are, 4 days before the release of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and in the mail today was a package from Merge. I got excited about opening it up, just due to the fact that I have it before the actual release. I completely forgot about the promotion of the autographed 7". I opened the package and dug right into the CD. I was pretty excited about the bonus disc. Stumbled around the extras that i got with it, a poster and a button, and then i eyed up the 12" of the album. I wasn't until I picked it up that i found tucked underneath of it was the 7" bonus...AUTOGRAPHED BY THE BAND!!!!

So being a huge fan of the band, I am thrilled. Im a firm believer that an autograph really doesn't mean much unless you obtain it yourself. Its fun just to meet the band, get a picture and maybe an autograph to show off later. But with that said, I am always willing to snatch up a freebie like this.

I've taken a snapshot of the entire package. And in case you were wondering, Britt's autograph is on the back of the sleeve, so you cant see it in the photo.

Smashing Paris

Having been a fan of The Smashing Pumpkins for quite some time, and really not much of one for the past few years, I'm obviously intrigued by the release of their first album in 7 years, Zeitgeist. I'm not going to dwell on the fact that we are only dealing with 1/2 of the original lineup. Its aways been about Billy anyway.

The first single from the album, Tarantula, is pretty great. It honestly brings to mind that old familiar sound that only the Pumpkins could make, without a hint of The Future Embrace or even Zwan. As much as I wanted to shrug the album off, and declare that using the name Smashing Pumpkins again was just a way to bring back a brand...I really dont feel like it is. And best of all, its not Machina III.

Shockingly, the album artwork for the UK single for Tarantula features none other than Paris Hilton. The single was released on Monday July 2nd (why do we release albums on Tuesday?). I think just based on the fact that is so funny, I have to order it.

UPDATE: I just ordered the CD single from amazon.co.uk. Pretty cheap too. I can't wait to get it!

Adams Eve

So, here we are on the eve of the release of Easy Tiger, the latest installment to a collection of crap records you can buy with your overpriced but wonderful Starbucks coffee.
Ryan Adams is my favorite artist, but I am really not looking forward to giving Easy Tiger its first spin. Ive managed to avoid the leak for my own reasons. I didnt want to spoil it...for better or for worse. There has been nothing but a sea of what I would consider negative press. Early reviews on the record called it a return to form...a return to the magic of Heartbreaker, Ryan's first solo push. Ive never been one to buy the "return to form" garbage. I honestly dont believe that its ever possible for an artist to ever return to the place in time in which they were at their best. Like the Rolling Stones for example. They still put out records, but no matter how hard they try they will never be able to capture Gimme Shelter and put it into a solid new radio hit.

Back to the subject at hand. Yes, I will go out and buy the record tomorrow. Yes, I will buy the Vinyl. But will I ever care? Will this album ever mean anything to me or will it be just another book up on the shelf? Who knows. Who cares for that matter.

And while Im at it, I have to say that the best and most complete album Ryan has put out was Cold Roses. And as many times as you will hear that Rock N Roll was garbage, I have to say that it happens to be a classic in my book. Its brilliant. It rocks...and it rolls.

Don't let me down Easy Tiger.
Please.

Pet Grief

It's really not often that a friend of mine turns me on to a band that I have both A: Never heard of, and B: Never heard their music. Usually I can claim one or both and sometimes have claimed one or both just to hide the fact that I had no clue. However in the case of Swedish band The Radio Dept., I will honestly admit that I was in the dark....and was I ever missing out on something great.

After being clued in by my new friend Chris, I picked up their 2006, Labrador Records release, Pet Grief. Its the second long player from The Radio Dept. and it's a stunning piece of work. Lo-fi, sweeping melodies of acoustic guitar and piano and electronic percussion, mixed with lush quiet spoken vocals. Mixed together it creates a swelling sound that just works.

I have been playing Pet Grief on repeat for nearly a month now. Just when I was ready to rewind into their back catalog I discovered that they have a slated October release for a new full length album.

Best of all, you can get it all on emusic!

Take a listen...

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky - Review

Wilco
Sky Blue Sky
Nonesuch, 2007

5.0




The first track on every Wilco album is something special. Its a song that prepares the listener for the adventure they are about to go on. Usually slow in tempo, sometimes dragging out past the 6 minute range. Its a song that lets you know that something special is about to happen. A solid opener is something that Wilco fans expect.

On Either Way, the opening track from Sky Blue Sky, that special something never comes. Which sadly does help fit the requirement of the Wilco album opener to be a song that sets the pace. Because throughout the entire duration of Sky Blue Sky, that something special never appears.

I hate to compare a bands past albums to their current album, but in this case I feel its necessary to make exception. Progress through the first 5 albums of Wilco's catalog should not lead us to Sky Blue Sky. From setting the standard for the sound of a genre, to pushing that sound to great heights, Wilco has taken a step back here. Sky Blue Sky is the sound of a band no longer willing to take risks.

The album comes across as one long song. Never building up, and almost never changing tempo. Its not until half-way through track 5, "Side With The Seeds", that we hear anything that sounds even close to the sound they are capable of producing. The static of seemingly improvised guitar solos finally washes over. But it comes and goes, taking us right back to where we were....which was in a coma.

After two risky and ambitious albums Wilco have stripped it back down to basics. Every Wilco album is different and special in their own way. They can almost all be summed up with one word. And I suppose that Sky Blue Sky is the same.

Safe.

Easy Sheryl

So, for the past few days I have been crying myself to sleep. I just cant deal with the Crowvirus Ryan Adams is injecting into my ears. After finally hearing the song "Two" on Ryan's MySpace site, i am slightly relieved. You almost can't even hear her. Which brings the question...Why is her presence necessary in the first place?

On 2005's Jacksonville City Nights, Norah Jones appeared for a little background help on the song "Dear John". Upon hearing the news of that collaboration I was a bit shocked, but the difference with that is that I actually have R E S P E C T for Norah Jones as a musician, and more importantly as a human being! Sheryl Crow is terrible. When she first broke onto the music scene she was respectable...but after she decided to start soaking up sun, all respect was lost. Even worse is the fact that she is a homewrecker with yellow wrist band man himself, Lance Armstrong. "Come on Lance, leave your wife and kids for me, all I wanna do is have some fun!"

She sucks.

The only positive note is that when i did a Google image search for her picture, about half of the images I found involved toilet paper!

If Ryan decides to rock out with Macy Gray on his next album, I believe that will be the end of the road for me.

Return

Well, ive been lost at sea for a while. Life has been busy and I needed a break from the blog. However, today I return.

Rock.

Dave

After Hours with Of Montreal

Thursday, April 12th Of Montreal will perform on Late Night With Conan O'Brien. Should be interesting. Since its network television and not Las Vegas, Kevin Barnes will probably be forced to keep his artistic expression in his pants.

Should be worth staying up to watch so save the date.

The Orange Peels

Last week I clicked my way through about 10 eMusic "Sounds Like" links until I came to a band called The Orange Peels. I think I happened upon them before because I recognized the name. I glanced at a few listener reviews and with that my curiosity got the best of me. I decided to take the plunge.

The music is very catchy. Sometimes a little too predictable as far as the lyrics go. But the sound is very full of life. It probably helped that I started listening to the album on a rare 70 degree winter day.

I don't know what the band is currently up to but take a listen for yourself.

My favorite track is California Blue.


myspace.com/opeels

Easy Pill

Just over a year ago I had the good fortune of seeing Ted Leo/Pharmacists open up for Ryan Adams at Irving Plaza in New York. There were about a dozen bands on the bill that night since it was a benefit show with proceeds going to hurricane Katrina. The whole show was put together by Jesse Malin, a sidekick of Mr. Adams. Anyway, there were a lot of bands on the bill that I had never seen, and some that had never heard of. The likes of Marah, Jesse Malin, Ted Leo/Rx, Butch Walker, Debbie Harry and others...obviously Ryan Adams & The Cardinals.

Of all those bands Ted Leo and the Pharmacists stole the show for me. I was blown away by their explosiveness on the stage. The band ripped through their set and hooked us all. I personally went home and wasted no time in snatching up 2 of their albums...then later the rest. Shake The Sheets is stunning. Perfect punk infected rock music with hook after hook. It gets a little political, but thats what Ted likes to do. Its not overbearing or preachy though, thats something I can't deal with. Leave your politics at home. But with Ted Leo it just comes across perfectly.

Their first release with Touch and Go records is out today "Living With The Living". I will review it when I have heard it. I plan on buying the vinyl which comes with free mp3 downloads of the entire album. Otherwise, you can find it on eMusic.

And honestly, if you don't already have the album "Shake The Sheets" you don't realize the void in your life. Get it first!

www.tedleo.com

Enjoy.

Spooning

Ever have a desire to see a room full of 200 white boys stand in place and dance their faces off without a care?

Ever have a desire to be a part of such an event?

As luck would have it Spoon are heading out on a short tour. What is lucky about this you ask? The very short tour will be making a stop in both Baltimore and Philadelphia!!!!! AND both shows are in small venues. AND both shows are on the weekend!!!!

My only Spoon experience was an eventful evening. Kozy and I hit up the TLA on South to watch Spoon rock right after their latest release Gimme Fiction. The show was amazing. They were one of the tightest rock bands i have ever seen. The entire room was gripped by the performance, and all the while our feet could not stop dancing and tapping.

This time around Spoon are probably going to be warming up a few new songs that will come on their next album, which is speculated to be released sometime this year. As soon as the current flames being put off by the "Fire" start to die down im sure.


04-21 Baltimore, MD - Sonar
04-22 Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom


I hope to see you there. Hmmmm, perhaps it will be a full on Spoon weekend!

Wincing The Vinyl Away

Alright. I recently admitted that I did not go out and buy The Shins new album Wincing The Night Away, when it was released officially a few weeks ago. Three reasons really came into play. First, I was broke. Second, I have had a perfect copy of the album for several months. And Third, I honestly played it out so bad, that I didn't even have a desire to listen to it in its true form.

So for the first time in years, I broke my own rule. A personal rule that states the following....

It is only ok to illegally download an anticipated album if I commit myself to an "eventual purchase".

Now obviously if the supposed anticipated album that has leaked turns out to be terrible, then the commitment to slap down money to buy it does not exist. It ends there.

But with an album such as Wincing The Night Away, which I am crazy about, there is no doubt that I have to own the real thing. I feel good about supporting the artist, not so much financially, but just to get out there and contribute to the number of albums they sell. To show them and the label that I want this band to be able to continue to make music. It's also important to me to keep my own collection of cd's and each bands catalog up to date.

Feeling my regret over the past few weeks, I ended up wandering into Bert's on Saturday. I wasn't really concerned at that point about catching up on my Shins collection. I just wanted to wander in, and buy a random cd (Writers Block) that I can't download from eMusic. Plus, I like Bert's and I like Bert. It's important to support my local music shop.

While scanning the walls that are covered in new vinyl records, I noticed that he had Wincing The Night Away. My chance to redeem myself perhaps. Though I am a serious vinyl collector, I have never bypassed a CD purchase and moved straight into vinyl. Until this day. I noticed the sticker on front of the record. It stated that inside the package of this vinyl album there was a code that would allow me to download mp3's of each song.

Now, this is nothing new. I have seen this concept appear from time to time on other vinyl albums. Personally I think its a great idea. Many people consider vinyl to be the "true format". So If i can buy a copy of an album in its true vinyl form and be able to download the album on its dreaded low quality file format...then Im all in!

So now I own Wincing The Night Away. Giant 12"x12" artwork, bonus poster, free mp3 downloads from Sub Pop....and my own copy of the album....in its true format. All for only $13.99.

And future anticipated vinyl releases that will include free mp3 downloads are the new Ted Leo/Rx album and the new Arcade Fire album.

Very exciting.

Silverchair. Webster Hall. 02.13.07

I don't believe I have ever gone to such great lengths to see a band. First, I was unable to get tickets to either NYC show because they sold out before I could blink. I found a good deal on a Buy It Now eBay auction for 2 tickets to the Webster Hall show and was beyond satisfied with that.

Fast forward to the day of the show. The entire eastern seaboard is experiencing severe winter weather for the first time this entire winter. Snow, freezing rain, ice, sleet, high winds, below freezing temperatures....all of which offer ideal driving conditions for a 150 mile drive to New York City....especially when half of that trip will be traveled in the middle of the night.

And you ask why? How could this band Silverchair offer an experience worth braving all of this?

On May 20, 2003 I was one of the few lucky people in this country to see Silverchair play one of only 4 shows in the US....their first in nearly 4 years....and their last for nearly 4 years. It was one of the most stunning, jaw dropping and eclectic sets I have ever seen. The band played songs from every album but their debut. The rocked hard, softened it with Daniel playing songs on the keyboard, entertained us with antics of all sorts. Daniel was all about theatrics at the time. From his attire, to the way he danced around the stage in circles and went crazy. I even remember him yelling out a drink order to the back bar, and having the crowd pass the drink all the way to the front. He said we dare not spill a drop. We didn't.

Last night I witnessed the return of Silverchair to the great city of New York. Webster Hall, February 13, 2007. The band has changed a lot since they last played this city. Four years older, and much more straight forward and professional in their delivery. This time, they were strictly business. Daniel kept his antics to a minimum, but when he did take on the role of the front man you could see Ben and Chris exchange smiles with each other. Daniel was clean cut, dressed in a full suit, which of course with Daniel being Daniel, the suit disappeared throughout the show, one layer at a time. It's always refreshing to see that Daniel still plays the same guitars at every show. It really preserves that lasting impression and familiarity when you see them live. Chris also played many of the same bass guitars, and Ben was rocking on the same drum kit that he used at the Bowery in 2003.

The songs were the same, but different. In 2003, the band tried hard to make every one of their old songs fit into the Diorama mold. They had no choice really. The songs on Diorama were massive, they were whimsical and rocked all at the same time. In 2003 they adjusted many of the old songs to fit right alongside the new ones. They added longer and cleaner guitar solos to songs such as Ana's Song (Open Fire), and made songs like Anthem For The Year 2000 even larger than life.

Last night they just put it out there. They played the songs straight through, altered them just a bit, whether it was Daniel singing in a different key from time to time, or drifting into different guitar solos. I felt like it was truly a live performance. Just a band being themselves. Not as rehearsed sounding as the Diorama tour. This I'm sure was due to the very straight forward rocking sound of the new songs from the upcoming release Young Modern. The songs sounded great live and I can't wait to hear the recorded versions. It's nearly impossible to follow up an album like Diorama and make everybody happy, but I know that if anyone can do it, its Silverchair.

The show completely lacked intimacy. A solo performance from Daniel on the keyboard, sweeping us away with After All These Years or Miss You Love or Asylum, simply never came. I was however pleased that they didn't even attempt to touch anything from Frogstomp. As much as I still love those songs, there really are just so many more songs they have recorded since then that I would rather hear. It was also difficult to realize that some of the older staple songs in the bands live set list have been cut to make way for the new songs. Paint Pastel Princess, Black Tangled Heart, Anthem, and many others, mostly from Neon Ballroom went missing.

All in all, the show was brilliant. If Silverchair never come to Philadelphia again, and I have to drive to NY, NY every 4 years to see them, then I am more than willing to make that commitment.

Rock.

The SETLIST:
Without You / Emotion Sickness / Greatest View / World Upon Your Shoulders / Across the Night / Young Modern / Ana's Song / Straight Lines / Tuna In The Brine / Luv Your Life / The Door / Don't Wanna Be The One / Mindreader / Freak
ENCORE
If You Keep Losing Sleep / Lever

2007 PLUG: Independent Music Awards

So while the spectacular musical talents of Mary J. Blige were being awarded by the Grammys last night, there was another, less credible portion of the music industry handing out its awards. I of course am joking. I hate MJB with a passion, but was happier to see the Dixie Chicks win Album of the Year over the others.

The winners of the 2007 Plug: Independent Music awards:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR- Band of Horses - Everything All The Time
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR- Arctic Monkeys
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR- Neko Case
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR- Sufjan Stevens
INDIE ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR- Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You...
AMERICANA ALBUM OF THE YEAR- Band of Horses - Everything All The Time
ELECTRONIC/DANCE ALBUM OF THE YEAR- Thom York - The Eraser
LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR- Broken Social Scene
SONG OF THE YEAR- Band of Horses - The Funeral
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR- Wolf Parade - I'll Believe In Anything
ALBUM ART/PACKAGING OF THE YEAR- Hot Chip - The Warning
RECORD LABEL OF THE YEAR- Sub Pop
LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR- Bowery Ballroom - NY, NY
MUSIC WEBSITE OF THE YEAR- pitchforkmedia.com
MUSIC BLOG OF THE YEAR- brooklynvegan.com
MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR- Paste
ONLINE RECORD STORE OF THE YEAR- Amazon.com


For more winners and all to see all of the nominees visit www.plugawards.com.

These Friends of Mine

Just wanted to say that tonight I decided to see what Rosie Thomas was all about. I really only remembered hearing her name in connection to Sufjan and the "scandal" of Sufjan and Rosie making babies together. Which wasn't true at all, it was just a buzz revolving around the fact that they were working on an album together.

Well, that album, These Friends of Mine by Rosie Thomas is to be released on compact disc March 13, 2007(what a day) but eMusic has been offering it for a few weeks now. Tonight I sucked it up and downloaded a free track, and discovered in doing so, that I had already downloaded the title track a few weeks ago(January 6th).

Anyway, I never bothered to listen to any of it until tonight but I have to say that its SPECTACULAR. Its 2am right now and this album is sweeping me off of my feet. I was soooooo ready for bed after Conan was over, but this Rosie experience came out of nowhere.

Its very beautiful acoustic/folk. A lot of harmonizing with Sufjan Stevens and Denison Witmer. Honestly some of the songs sound like Seven Swans era Sufjan songs, except make Sufjan singing the background vocals and on the lead vocals put an amazingly soft and soothing female voice. Slow acoustic guitars, orchestra arrangements and from time to time, Sufjans favorite weapon...the banjo.

I should also add that I have had my 90 download per month eMusic subscription for almost a year now, and until this day I have NEVER until this evening purchased a download booster. I only had enough downloads remaining until February 22 to download 3 songs from the album. After about 2 minutes of debate I went for it.

No regrets.

Silverchair at the Bowery // 2003

Everything you have heard is true. Silverchair are amazing. Here are three pics take by John and I at their show at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC on May 20, 2003 on tour for Diorama. And the answer to your question is....YES....we were front and center stage!

The Video

Mini Kozy

Welcome into the world Tatiyana Rebecca!

Straight Lines

So, according to chairpage.com Silverchair will release the single for Straight Lines on March 10th. So that either means that you can order it and hope that it arrives before the album is released, or wait 3 weeks until Young Modern comes out and have them shipped together. Either way, Silverchair singles are always a must have. This is the word from chairpage...

In other Silverchair news it has been announced that a CD single of “Straight Lines” will be released in Australia on Saturday March 10 with Young Modern to follow on March 31.

The CD single will feature 3 bonus tracks - two more original songs plus a live version of the Midnight Oil classic “I Don’t Wanna Be The One” which Silverchair performed at last year’s ARIA Awards to induct the Oils into the Hall Of Fame.



Sounds good to me!

New Music

Current anticipated, or unanticipated but I tried to include a broad spectrum of albums, future releases:

01/30/07 - Youth Group Casino Twilight Dogs
01/30/07 - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Some Loud Thunder
02/06/07 - Bloc Party A Weekend In The City
02/06/07 - Sondre Lerche Phantom Punch
02/20/07 - Cool Hand Luke The Balancing Act
02/20/07 - Explosions In The Sky All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
02/20/07 - Anberlin Cities
03/06/07 - Lovedrug Everything Starts Where It Ends
03/06/07 - Relient K Five Score And Seven Years Ago
03/06/07 - The Arcade Fire Neon Bible
03/06/07 - My Brightest Diamond Tear It Down
03/20/07 - The Snake The Cross The Crown Cotton Teeth
03/20/07 - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists Living With The Living
03/29/07 - Silverchair Young Modern (Australian Release, will buy on eBay)
04/02/07 - Maximo Park Our Earthly Pleasures (U.K.)
04/03/07 - Kings Of Leon Because Of The Times
04/10/07 - Bright Eyes Cassadaga
04/17/07 - Waking Ashland The Well
05/15/07 - Wilco Sky Blue Sky

Mae is releasing an album titled Singularity which is slated for an April 2007 release.

matt pond PA is releasing an album titled Last Light late spring.

Say Anything's new album will be entitled In Defense Of The Genre.

God Bless Bloc Party Part 2

Sorry, I can't get enough.

God Bless Bloc Party

Kozy's Top 15 Albums

Sorry, I have no album pix yet but I will re-post this soon with the album art.

Top 15 Albums

01. Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope

02. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

03. Badly Drawn Boy - Born In The U.K.

04. Calexico - Garden Ruin

05. Beck - The Information

06. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit

07. The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America

08. The Strokes - First Impressions Of Earth

09. Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That

10. The Format - Dog Problems

11. Brand New - The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me

12. This Will Destroy You - Young Mountain

13. Yeahs Yeah Yeah - Show Your Bones

14. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers

15. Pete Yorn - Nightcrawler

Limbeck - Julia

Friendly Reminder

Jake: I just can't quit you, James...I'm fond of Y-O-U.

James: It's because my songs are so damn catchy, what can I say.


Don't forget to tune in to NBC tonight at 11:30 for Saturday Night Live. Hosted by Jake Gyllenhaal with musical guests none other than The Shins. So....Phantom Limb....and....I guess we'll have to find out.

Here's hoping for a James Mercer / Jake Gyllenhaal Brokeback Mountain skit.

Not.

The Shins - Phantom Limb

It's a day to celebrate ignorance.

Hate To Say I Told You So...

So, I just wandered over to eMusic only to find that the currently the #1 Album on their Power Charts is none other than the Photographs EP by Lakes. Go figure. So do yourself a favor today if you have not already downloaded it, and go do it. And if you have doubts, download the first track Indian Lover and let that run through your head a few times. I can't wait to get a full length album out of these guys. Hopefully this year.

You Should Be Listening

Todays forecast on the Eastern Seaboard...RAIN. My solution to your rainy day case of the Monday's is to take a listen to 2005's Oh You're So Silent Jens, by Jens Lekman. Jens' deep voice combined with his sweeping melodies are at first difficult to care for, but quickly get caught in your head. This album contains tracks that sound like they were recorded on a rainy day, but then comes back with songs that will bring the sun out from behind the clouds.

Listen for: Maple Leaves, Black Cab, Rocky Dennis' Farewell Song, A Sweet Summers Night On Hammer Hill

Perfect if you like: Sufjan Stevens, The Magnetic Fields, Neutral Milk Hotel

New Music

Current anticipated future releases:

01/23/07 - The Shins Wincing The Night Away
01/23/07 - Youth Group Casino Twilight Dogs
01/30/07 - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Some Loud Thunder
02/06/07 - Bloc Party A Weekend In The City
02/20/07 - Cool Hand Luke The Balancing Act
02/20/07 - Explosions In The Sky All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
03/06/07 - Lovedrug Everything Starts Where It Ends
03/06/07 - Relient K Five Score And Seven Years Ago
03/06/07 - The Arcade Fire Neon Bible
03/06/07 - My Brightest Diamond Tear It Down
03/20/07 - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists Living With The Living
03/29/07 - Silverchair Young Modern (Australian Release, will buy on eBay)
04/10/07 - Bright Eyes Cassadaga

Kings Of Leon is releasing an album called Because Of The Times in spring of 2007 with no official release date. I just thought I'd point that out because I love them.

Mae is releasing an album titled Singularity which is slated for an April 2007 release.

matt pond PA is releasing an album titled Last Light late spring.

Top 15 Albums of 2006

01 // Dog Problems
by The Format




02 // The Life Pursuit
by Belle & Sebastian




03 // It's Never Been Like That
by Phoenix





04 // The Avalanche
by Sufjan Stevens





05 // Rabbit Fur Coat
by Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins





06 // Nightcrawler
by Pete Yorn





07 // Everything All The Time
by Band Of Horses





08 // First Impressions of Earth
by The Strokes





09 // The Crane Wife
by The Decemberists





10 // The Greatest
by Cat Power





11 // Bring It Back
by Mates Of State





12 // Westerns EP
by Pete Yorn





13 // Into The Blue Again
by The Album Leaf





14 // At Home With Owen
by Owen





15 // Show Your Bones
by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Top 15 Albums Of 2006

1. Belle & Sebastian- The Life Pursuit
favorite tracks: Another Sunny Day, White Collar Boy, Funny Little Frog

2. The Strokes- First Impressions Of Earth
favorite tracks: Heart In A Cage, Ask Me Anything, Electricityscape

3. Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins- Rabbit Fur Coat
favorite tracks: Rise Up With Fists!!!, The Charging Sky, You Are What You Love








4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Show Your Bones
favorite tracks: Mysteries, Warrior, Turn Into

5. Phoenix- It's Never Been Like That
favorite tracks: Consolation Prizes, Long Distance Call, One Time Too Many

6. Cat Power- The Greatest
favorite tracks: The Greatest, Could We, Willie

7. Beck- The Information
favorite tracks: Elevator Music, Think I'm In Love, Strange Apparition








8. Pete Yorn- Nightcrawler
favorite tracks: Vampyre, For Us, Bandstand In The Sky

9. Band Of Horses- Everything All The Time
favorite tracks: Wicked Gil, The Funeral, Weed Party

10. The Hold Steady- Boys And Girls In America
favorite tracks: Stuck Between Stations, Chips Ahoy, Hot Soft Light

11. Jarvis Cocker- Jarvis
favorite tracks: Black Magic, Heavy Weather, I Will Kill Again








12. My Morning Jacket- Okonokos
favorite tracks: Gideon, One Big Holiday, Run Thru

13. The Decemberists- The Crane Wife
favorite tracks: The Crane Wife 3, Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then), O Valencia

14. Pete Yorn- Westerns EP
favorite tracks: The Man, Never My Love, Don't Mean Nothing

15. The Gothic Archies- The Tragic Treasury
favorite tracks: Scream And Run Away, Crows, Walking My Gargoyle

Photographs EP

Lakes
Photographs EP
The Militia Group, 2006

9.0




I'm a little upset that here we are in December, and I am just discovering Photographs by Lakes, which was released in September. Thats almost 4 months of musical enjoyment my ears have missed out on. But I suppose there is no such thing as too late.

These songs are uplifting. They are full of hope that love will last forever, and that full of memories and reflection. I think the word "love" is probably used 1000 times. The opening track, Indian Lover, grips you from the start. Its one of the best songs I have heard this year. The lyrics are nostalgic and the melodies are sweeping. The songs contain such subtle transitions from its quiet moments to the greatest points of build-up. The album grows with each song, until it ends with the brilliant White Flag....which fades out leaving you wanting more.

Lakes are off to a great start. I can't wait to see what they can deliver on their first full length album.
And if you're curious, check them out at myspace.com/lakes

Saturday Night Wrist

Deftones
Saturday Night Wrist
2006, Maverick

7.2






It wasn't until one minute and five seconds into track 3 of the album Saturday Night Wrist that I realized what exactly the Deftones 2003 self-titled release was missing.

Heart.

It is at that moment of the song Beware, and then later moments when the same chorus resurfaces in full, that you come to a true understanding of what you remember the Deftones to have always been about. They have always rocked your face off. But there was always so much emotion involved in every aspect of their sound. Whether its the loud/quiet melodies, the lyrics that not only scream something but mean something, or Chino's ability to do what most "metal" artists cant do...which is SING...and hit real notes; the Deftones have always been able to keep even the people who are least likely to listen to music in their genre entertained.

All of those points were way off target in their 2003's Deftones, the follow-up to the peak album of their career, White Pony. Deftones managed to rock hard, but there was never a point on the album where you actually felt it. Just a lot of noise...good noise in my opinion...but still just noise. I guess this would make Saturday Night Wrist a return to form. It probably would have been more suitable as a follow-up to White Pony.

The album at first seems top heavy, which makes it difficult to focus on the second half. The first few songs are so strong, they command your constant attention. Hole In The Earth, the first single, seemed empty to me at first, but it turns out to be a perfect opener. Each song gets better and stands out more and more with every listen. I feel like this album has to grow on you track by track, but by the time you get to the end, you realize that you got a taste of everything you wanted, and at some point heard echoes of this bands past...along with samples of what may lie ahead.

Peel Dave and See

So for some reason I decided to bid on the Velvet Underground vinyl that is currently on ebay. Its a good thing I got outbid, but for about a half hour of my life I had $39,100 on the line. It made me a little bit ill. In the end, I am cemented for all time as bidder number 123, at a cool $39,100. So someday when Im out at a record store and I overhear a few music snobs talking about that rare Velvet Underground Acetate I can interject and say.... "yeah, I bid on that".

Just about 12 hours from when I bid $39,100, the auction now has 142 bids and is up to $50,856. WOW!

Songs for Christmas

Sufjan Stevens
presents Songs For Christmas
2006, Asthmatic Kitty

10.0




Sufjan Stevens is without a doubt over the top in everything he does. While some artists tend to destroy their sound and ultimately their career by attempting to over do it, Sufjan seems to have settled into his comfort zone. At this point in time, everything he touches turns to gold. The man can do no wrong.

Songs for Christmas takes us on a journey that was never intended for us. Over the past 6 years Sufjan has been giving the ultimate cheapskate Christmas gifts to his family and friends. Of all the ways to save a buck. An EP every year of holiday classics, and fresh new holiday songs written by Sufjan himself. Quite honestly, the recipients of these albums must have been sprinting to their mailboxes every day from Thanksgiving to Christmas, desperately awaiting the arrival of their much privileged package.

For them, it was a CD-R decorated in stickers...for us it's a spectacular box set. The packaging of this collection is perfect, and no detail has been overlooked. Each of the 5 albums is in their own separate sleeve, all of which are covered in appropriate holiday symbolicness. The face of each disc resembles a classic vinyl album, each with a different color in the center, and each containing the track listing. There is a page of stickers, a poster size family portrait, comic strip, and massive Songbook. The Songbook contains more pictures and illustrations, detailed song credits, lyrics and chord charts for each song. All of this is packaged in a sturdy gatefold cardboard box. You couldn't ask for more than this for you $20 could you!

And then there is the music. I was quite hesitant to think that i was going to enjoy such a large collection of Christmas music. Music like this usually has such a temporary run in our CD players. As soon as those presents are all unwrapped, and you've finished making your rounds to all of your grandparents houses on Christmas morning, the music stops...and then collects dust until Thanksgiving. However, with this collection, I really feel like there is enough substance to make me want to listen throughout the entire year.

For the most part, all of the more traditional Christmas Carols are done as very short instrumental pieces. It is without a doubt something that i find refreshing. It gives you a brief hint of a classic melody. Something that you recognize and enjoy, but certainly not something that you want to hear over and over again. Nearly half of the songs were actually written by Sufjan (17 of 42), and all range from silly to serious lyrically, but have a very Illinoisesque quality to them in their sounds. Some of them you would swear were recorded for the album Illinois, but then at the last minute Sufjan substituted the words....."we drove to New York, with my friend, in a van"...scratch that out...."we flew to The North Pole, with Santa Claus, in his Sleigh"...eureka!, it's a Christmas song!

The brilliance of this album is the selection of songs that are not as traditional in the aspect of what is expected to be found by a popular artist on a Christmas album. There are many songs that I had never heard before, or could recall, but had never obtained. Several songs are traditional Christmas Hymns, including the song "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing", which is by far my favorite on the album. Not only for the warm quality of the recording, but also for the childhood memories in church on Christmas Eve that song sparks.

Sufjan Stevens presents Songs for Chrismas is for EVERYBODY. I think it deserves a perfect rating, because in all honesty, I can't find anything I don't like about it. Nothing. Period.

So don't even think about downloading it from eMusic. Don't consider sporting a burned copy from your buddy. Drive yourself the store, and go give Santa Sufjan and Jesus your hard earned $20.

And don't forget to sing along!

Boys And Girls In America

The Hold Steady
Boys And Girls In America
2006, Vagrant

6.3

I really had a lot reservations about reviewing this album. I listened to the album 4 times in row before writing the review. I have to say that I don't like anything else that they've made. Craig Finn's voice really is an aquired taste and at times seems to lack emotion. There is also something really fun about it at the same time and I can't quite pinpoint what it is. His lyrics are nostalgic, witty, and sometimes just downright goofy. There times when you feel like drinking on a hot summers night among friends and other times when you feel driving along America's heartland. That feeling is both in the lyrics and the music, which I must say is the albums saving grace. Boys And Girls In America sounds like the lovechild of Bachman Turner Overdrive and Bruce Springsteen. It's both poetic and senseless, meaningless and relevant.

I should point out that what initially got me interested in checking this album out was a free track that eMusic.com had available aptly named "Boys And Girls In America" which happens to not be on the album. It is a very good song and a definite attention grabber and it has some of Finn's best singing on it. Most of the songs relate to past times that involve partying, drinking, one night stands, and rejection. The album starts with "Stuck Between The Stations" which instrumentally is a fantastic song but Finn's voice doesn't really seem fit this song but somehow his storytelling style makes it tolerable. A lot of this album follows the same pattern but one of the things about this album is that THS always seem to throw in that one thing into each song that makes you remember it and want to listen to it again. Even the hapless ballad "First Night" which seems to have multiple meanings (which isn't always a bad things), doesn't fit Finn's voice at all, and seems to lack emotion finds a way to pull in about halfway through the song when it breaks down into this amazing orchestral bridge and goes into a rockin chorus that leads quite into the second part of the album. Every song seems to have at least a few good hooks and some stellar piano parts but they sometimes try to do too much like in "Chill Out" where the additional vocalists in the song actually make it worse. Songs where THS don't try to do to much and just rock out and sing about drinking is when they are at their best. Craig Finn definitely isn't for everyone but if you want a fun album that doesn't require too much concentration or emotion than this is it for you. The hype surrounding this album is undeserving, it's a good album but not life-changing. I must also point out that there are 2 additional tracks, "Girls Like Status" and "Arms And Hearts", which are available on iTunes which definitely worth the $1.98 to download.

Key Tracks: Party Pit, Southtown Girls, Citrus, Hot Soft Light, You Can Make Like You

eMusic Plan Changes

So, last week I was greeted with spectacular news in my yahoo inbox. Starting November 21st the eMusic rates will be changing. The catch is that the cost of the rates won't change...the amount of downloads per plan will change. The new plans are as follows...

eMusic Basic
30 downloads per month (formerly 40)
$9.99 per month

eMusic Plus
50 downloads per month (formerly 65)
$14.99 per month

eMusic Premium
75 downloads per month (formerly 90)
$19.99 per month

Its a sad day in my opinion. It just shows me that in less than a year of major popularity, eMusic seems to be caving to record labels who are probably insisting that they charge more for their downloads. I always considered eMusic to be the most amazing thing in the world, because it allows you to try out so many new indie bands at such a low cost, that buying the physical cd becomes an afterthought. Its so cheap that you dont even care that you dont actually get a physical copy of the album. I have said to many of my friends that I hate only having downloads of albums, but eMusic is just so beyond worth the cost that i just dont care anymore. Those days may soon be gone. Because if the cost of downloading an album creeps up from $3 to $5 roughly, then i think its almost becoming worth the extra $7 to have the real thing on my shelf.

The catch is that if you are an existing eMusic customer, you are able to keep your existing plan...but only if you sign up for the old rate before November 21st. I locked myself into the Annual plan again, which is $191 for the year with 90 downloads per month. Seems like a lot of money...but come on people, thats less than 6 CENTS per song! Beat that iTunes!!

So dont forget to lock yourself in to the old rates before November 21st!


Oh, and I have to say that i downloaded the album Sincerely, Black Lipstick by the band Black Lipstick today off of eMusic, and I am beyond impressed. Its a really nice listen, and having only 9 tracks makes it easy to get into. So go for it! Sometimes as i listen i am reminded of the Stones.

Sam's Town

The Killers
Sam's Town
2006, Island/Def Jam

5.4

Ah, The Killers, we were all obsessed at one point with Hot Fuss with it's uncanny catchiness. It had hip, headbobbing melodies and glamorous lyrics. It was very different from anything else we had pretty much heard in a long time and needless to say, made us very interested in what they were gonna do next. Well, here it is and damn if we're not disappointed. Sometimes instant success can hurt a band and rather going with how they feel and putting their own emotion into it they end up trying too hard.

It's not that this album sucks because it doesn't. It's undeniably catchy albeit overdone at times and it's enjoyable to listen to. The real problem with this album is that it doesn't feel like the band put their hearts into it. It feels like a lot of ego and too much testosterone was put into it. Glam-rock doesn't need ego and testosterone, it needs sex, drugs, alcohol, and past regrets. The lyrics on this album feel more like an artist attempting to sound intelligent and experienced than really just writing from the heart. It's very retrospective and these guys are still kids. They are singing about the past when they basically have no past. They should be singing about learning experiences and the future. 2 pictures in the album artwork very much show a band that's trying too hard and thinks it's bigger than what it really is: the back cover looks like a band that thinks they are U2 and then one of the pictures on the inside shows all the band members floating a few feet above the ground, which is cool if you're Pink Floyd.

Songs like "Read My Mind" and "Bones" are undeniably catchy and have fantastic melodies but have repetitive lyrics and lack substance. "Uncle Jonny" feels like a personal experience the singer never had and "Bling (Confession Of A King)" is a ridiculous enough of a song title that I practically don't want to like it even though it is one of the strongest tracks on the album. "My List" shows a band not very good at writing a slow power ballad. Another I should point out is the order of the songs on this album. "Sam's Town" is a big bold song that's probably one of the best on the album but it should be places somewhere towards the end of the albums if not at the end. The "enterlude" and "exitlude" are both unnecessary and uncreative. The placing of "enterlude" is akin to a movie with an action sequence to start the film and then the credits. This is music and that is just not needed.

Sometimes a band feels they need to make that one album that will make them legendary versus creating an overall body of work that spans an entire career. Sometime sticking to a formula is a good thing and doesn't need to be meddled with and sometimes progression is a good thing but only in small doses. Radiohead did that but was lucky enough to make a few classic albums before getting too big for themselves and going off the deep end. Here's hoping The Killers have a humbling experience and realize that being yourself is a good thing before they record a new album.

Key Tracks: This River Is Wild, When You Were Young, Bling (Confessions Of A King)

Born In The U.K.

Badly Drawn Boy
Born In The U.K.
2006, Astralwerks/EMI

9.1

I start by pointing out that my only encounter with BDB before this was a copy of Have You Fed The Fish? one of my buddies gave me and randomly seeing a really rad video on MTV2 a few years ago of BDB, whose real name is Damon Gough, carrying people piggyback around NYC. Needless to say, I can't really touch on album progression with this review because I don't have much basis for comparison. I do have to say that upon repeated listens of this album in a short timespan that I will be digging into his back catalogue.

This album not only is good musically but also has some of the better artwork I've seen on an album this year. I feel artwork is important because it enhances the overall creativity of the artist and shows that the artist cares about the overall (my apologies for the redundant use of this word) product he puts out there. The artwork on this album, much like the music, has an optimistic feel to it.

The overall theme of the album is about looking for the good in the bad and not regretting the things of the past. Granted a lot of times I can enjoy an album that is good musically and not lyrically more than I can enjoy an album that is good lyrically and not musically. Does anyone actually know even a handful of lyrics to any Led Zeppelin song? Haven't we listened to them a million times though? BDB is one of the few artists that is really able to grab me both musically and lyrically which is actually sometimes harder to get into because it requires more focus and time listening to it. On Born In The U.K. Damon Gough draws from a number of different influences and uses a spectrum of different instruments that are mostly played by him. His songs are very orchestral and balladous yet not overdone. Artists that are multi-talented have a tendency to get too big for themselves and completely overdo it (i.e. - Sufjan Stevens & Muse) but BDB has a great formula and does everything just right.

The songs themselves on this album flow together quite well. There is definitely an element of early disco and funk mixed in but it is just there to enhance the songs. Everything is built around Damon's voice, which is amazingly lush and mature sounding, and a piano. Damon is by no means a piano rocker though as the songs are much more full than you're average piano rock.

Damon begins the album which spoken word interlude that challenges the listener to dig deeper and look for the positive in life and be thankful for what you have and be happy for the life you've been given. He's very open, introspective, and personal and really lets you know where he's coming and why he feels the way he does. His metaphors aren't overly obvious but not incomprehensible. He's charming and sincere but not whiny and sappy. Every facet of this album had just the right amount of time put into, it's not lacking in anything or overdone. It feels like a soundtrack to a 70's musical but also fits quite well into the changing times of today where there is so much cynicism and pessimism. So sit back, relax, and be thankful for the good things in life like the new album by Badly Drawn Boy.

Key Tracks: Nothing's Gonna Change Your Mind, Promises, Welcome To The Overground, Walk You Home Tonight

Nightcrawler

Pete Yorn
Nightcrawler
2006, Red Ink/Columbia


8.5


From the moment Pete Yorn opened his recent Stone Pony show in Asbury Park, NJ on the You & Me Acoustic Tour, I knew that Nightcrawler was going to be a smash, a return to everything I loved about "musicforthemorningafter". Just like that show at the Stone Pony, the album opens with the darkness of "Vampyre", a slow then heavy "intro" style song. Its one of the darker songs you will ever hear from PY, maybe the darkest, but there is something just so gripping about this song, and just something so dirty about the recording quality. Its a fantastic, almost incomplete song, that takes you right into the outstanding first single "For Us".

For Us holds a very simple progression, but the song takes you for a vocal journey unlike most of the previous vocal range offerings Pete has dished out. There is almost a point where I feel like he has become more of a crooner...."I watch you for a bit...". Its a perfect rock song, and a great hook makes it single ready.

There are a few slips on the album. In 2002 PY released a song for the Spiderman Soundtrack called "Undercover" which appears on this album as the same exact recording as it was previously released. Its a great song, but really stands out as a song that was not part of the same recording session. "Splendid Isolation" is a Warren Zevon cover which was also recorded and released in 2002. Its a great song, and I have to say that it fits perfectly on the album. Though even with out reading the liner notes, any true PY fan should at least be able to tell that those arent typical lyrics for Pete to write...cause obiviously he didnt. "Bandstand In The Sky" was written by Pete in 1997 and released as an entirely different version....a much better version....on the album Live From New Jersey. Still a great song. I have learned to enjoy the studio recording, though I will admit that it took about 1000 listens.

There are too many stand out songs to mention. Some songs that didnt strike me as much at first, and have now become my favorites. One of the best, and most unusual PY songs ever has to be "Georgie Boy". It appears that Pete was in fact paying attention to music in the 80's when he was growing up. Both "Georgie Boy" and "How Do You Go On?" have almost a Pete Yorn meets 80's dance remix. "Georgie Boy" is a great track.

One claim that I can make on the album is that it holds the song which will end up being my Favorite Song of 2006. Ladies and gentleman..."The Man". Its a classic. The lyrics are a perfect slowdance under the moonlight, laced with the sweet voice of Natalie Maines (who knew!). The song is such a sweet acoustic rock song. The perfect example of when a song just works.

In addition to the 14 track album, there are numerous b-sides, and there is the Westerns EP, which was released and deleted before the album dropped. The b-sides are all good, but clearly b-sides. Some of the songs on Westerns are pretty amazing and probably could have been made into much larger songs and placed on Nightcrawler instead of the 3 previously recorded songs.

Either way, there is pleanty of Pete to go around as usual.

Music for the morning after the day i forgot nightcrawler. What does the future hold?

Alive With The Glory of Love

Say Anything - Alive With The Glory of Love (acoustic MTV)

So, I was just clicking around on YouTube, as I often do late at night when I happened across these three Say Anything videos. All are acoustic from an apparent MTV acoustic session. The only reason I knew to look for them was because I caught a clip of one of the videos after a random MTV sitcom.

My friends and I have been listening to Say Anything since 2004. Which is now long before the time the band took off. We had the chance to see them play at the North Star Bar in February of 2005, and meet Max after the show. The album "...was a real boy" would become one of my favorite albums of all time. It never goes away, and never gets old. Max's songwriting is unlike anything anybody has ever heard. Amazing for something he recorded on his own when he was only 18!

Fast forward a few years....this is the video for "Alive With The Glory Of Love". You can go to YouTube and see the other 2 videos "Woe" and "I Want To Know Your Plans". I put up "Alive..." because it is an amazing example of his talent.

Max, we salute you. Enjoy kids.