LiquidGeneration Music

ELLIOT SMITH MP3s: LIVE IN STOCKHOLM

Oh, this is so very sweet. Don't tell anybody.

LIVE MUSIC: ARCADE FIRE AND WOLF PARADE...MAKE ME WANT TO MOVE TO CANADA

It's a good thing Fall has finally arrived. You see, every year around August 20th I start to get sick of music. I say to my self, "Self, music just isn't as good as it used to be. Everything sounds the same, no one is doing anything new and there are only two Beatles left (1.5 really...Ringo)." Then a miraculous thing happens, trees start to lose their leaves, flip flops are put away in place of beat up boots and layers are once again an option. All of a sudden music sounds good, there are at least 50 new bands I haven't heard that are definitely the best band since the last best band and there are SHOWS. Not one here or there. I mean shows every night of the week for a solid two months. There's just something about Fall that makes for the best season to see live music. I've already been to a number of amazing shows this month each one better than the last, and yesterday evening was no exception as I had the good fortune to score "Abe Lincoln" seats to see Wolf Parade and the Arcade Fire at the Riviera theater here in Chicago. On any other night, Wolf Parade would have stolen the show but such was not the case yesterday. Don't get me wrong the boys from the WP lived up to their hype and put on a great show, it's just that after them the Arcade Fire went on, and well, err, they're good. First though, a little bit about Wolf Parade. They are from Montreal and their debut record, Apologies to the Queen Mary, came out this past Tuesday. They've been compared to Arcade Fire (which I can see in a kind of more aggressive guitar rock way) and Modest Mouse (not at all, but the record was produced by a member of Modest Mouse so people feel like they have to compare the two bands), but I also hear a bit of the Walkmen and even Bowie influence. Both the guitar player and keyboard player sing, which is kinda nice as they have very different but complimenting voices. They're going on a solo tour later this fall and I would have to say I will definitely go. Song highlights included "You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son, "Shine a Light," and set closer "I'll Believe in Anything." (You can hear this track on the latest LG Radio Show).

What can I say about the Arcade Fire? I guess first I should make it clear that I think they're an awesome band, but I have never been one of those obsessive, gushing fans. I think last night might have changed that. The moment the army that is the Arcade Fire marched onto the stage and played a brief intro of Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" into a triumphant (yes the first song they played already sounded like they won) rendition of "Wake Up" I had a bit of an epiphany. I realized, as did the 2000 plus sold out crowd, that we were in for something special. There are a lot of great bands out there today, but what makes the Arcade Fire better than all of them is the combination of truly original songwriting, a band of unlikely "rock stars" that can all play the hell out of their respected instruments, having a firm understanding on the art of arranging and their secret weapon, a flair for the dramatic. You are not there to watch "a band" but to see a performance, something that doesn't happen all that often in this age of singles and one-hit-wonders. Just to clarify, when I say "drama" I'm not talking about spoken word pieces and Shakespearean sonnets (not that there's anything wrong with that), instead I'm thinking more along the lines of little subtleties in the songs and in the band's demeanor on stage. Something about it all is very Bowie-esque, as was most apparent in a truly jaw dropping cover of the Thin White Duke's "Five Years." Sometimes great music, film and art have a way of making you feel nostalgic for a time and a place. What's truly amazing about The Arcade Fire is that they somehow, someway manage to remind you of a time and place you've never been. Here's the full set list:

1. Wake Up
2. Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
3. Headlights Look Like Diamonds
4. Haiti
5. I'm Sleeping In A Submarine
6. 5 Years (Bowie Cover)
7. Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)
8. Crown Of Love
9. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
10. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
11. Rebellion (Lies)
ENCORE
12. No Cars Go
13. Backseat

Wolf Parade will finish off touring with Arcade Fire and then have some solo dates. Here's the info:

09-29 @ First Avenue Minneapolis, MN with Arcade Fire, Belle Orchestre
09-30 @ Burton Cummings Theatre Winnipeg, MT with Arcade Fire, Belle Orchestre
10-02 @ Odeon Event Center Saskatoon, SK with Arcade Fire, Belle Orchestre
10-04 @ Reds Edmonton AB, with Arcade Fire, Belle Orchestre
10-05 @ MacEwan Hall Calgary AB, Canada with Arcade Fire, Belle Orchestre
10-07 @ PNE Forum Vancouver, BC with Arcade Fire
10-12 @ Great Northern Brewery Fargo, ND
10-13 @ 7th St Entry Minneapolis,MN
10-14 @ Schubas Chicago, IL with Robbers on High Streets, King of France
10-15 @ Intersection Grand Rapids, MI
10-16 @ Magic Stick Detroit, MI
10-17 @ Horseshoe Tavern Toronto ON, Canada
10-18 @ Theatre Plaza Montreal, QC with Think About Life, Dante Decaro
10-20 @ T.T.The Bears Cambridge, MA
10-21 @ Bard College - Smog Building Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
10-22 @ Cafe Nine New Haven, CT
10-23 @ Khyber Pass Philadelphia, PA
10-24 @ Bowery Ballroom New York City, NY
10-25 @ North Six Brooklyn, NY

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE VIDEO

Just thought some of you might want to see this Death Cab for Cutie video of them playing 'Soul Meets Body' on Conan O'Brien.

LIVE MUSIC: THE NATIONAL AND CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH

Last Friday I saw Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and the National at a small club here in Chicago. While I enjoy intimate venues (especially when seeing bands I really enjoy), I think the promoters were crazy to have this show at such a small place. They could have easily filled a venue two times the size. In any case, while it was a little packed (with hipsters and O.C. watching slipsters alike) the show was probably one of the top three shows I have seen all year. CYHSY are a great story as they came out of nowhere earlier this year to become an internet phenomenon, and with the help of Blogs, online music zines and local attention garnered national attention. In this day and age (and the state of the music industry) it's really encouraging to hear about a success story like this...especially when the band can back it up. As you can imagine CYHSY were the crowd favorite, and they didn't disappoint, playing almost every song from their record and a couple I had never heard before. If you're like me and can take only so much of singer Alec Ounsworth's affected vibrato, then you will be thrilled to hear that live it's not nearly as distracting as it is on the record. All in all they sounded great and had enough energy to keep the set strong throughout. Song highlights included "Details of the War," "Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth," and "Is This Love?"

While I enjoyed the set by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, the band I really came to see was the National. I have been a fan of the band for awhile now, but hadn't had the chance to check out their live show. It was worth the wait. I see a lot of live music, and what tends to bother me the most about a lot of shows I see is the lack of passion or energy that a lot of bands have. It's
really not fun to stand there and watch a band go through the motions. The best shows I have ever seen, are the ones where the people on stage are having more fun than the people in the crowd. The National were having a really good time on stage...and I think that lead singer Matt Beringer might have had a pretty good time at the bar beforehand. I walked away with a satisfied feeling that I haven't had in quite awhile. Having a lot of energy on stage is all fine and good, but when you back it up with great songs, and even better performances, well that's something special. I would highly recommend checking out both of their records, and if you haven't missed them on this tour you need to buy a ticket now.

National tour info. All dates with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah:

Sept 29 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
Sept 30 - Portland, OR - Dante's
Oct 01 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's (KEXP Benefit)
Oct 02 - Vancouver, BC - Sonar (please note change of venue)
Oct 04 - Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
Oct 05 - San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine
Oct 06 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
Oct 07 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
Oct 08 - Phoenix, AZ - MODified (please note new venue!)
Oct 09 - Tucson, AZ - Plush (cancelled)
Oct 11 - Austin, TX - The Parish

Fall Tour Part 2

Oct 21 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle w/ Ambulance Ltd
Oct 22 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl w/ The Cloud Room
Oct 23 - Orlando, FL - The Social w/ John Vanderslice; Portastatic
Oct 24 - Tallahassee, FL - FSU w/ The Cloud Room
Oct 25 - Baton Rouge, LA - Red Star Bar w/ The Cloud Room (please note new date)
Nov 03 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's w/ Clogs; Bell Orchestre

CLAP YOUR HANDS AND SAY WHAHHHHH!

Awhile ago on the LG Podcast we talked about a band called Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah. We played a song of theirs and it was very good. But now I hate this band because they are a bunch of snotty, pretentious losers who dared to diss my favorite show, the best show in the entire world, The O.C! From the New York Times:

The buzz even persuaded producers of "The O.C.," which is known for its indie rock soundtracks, to ask Clap Your Hands to perform on the show. The band turned it down. Too much popularity, after all, can diminish one's credibility.

"I don't like the idea of being overexposed," said Mr. Ounsworth, who is dark in appearance and in demeanor. "Vincent van Gogh never sold a painting, and he was perfectly content."

Oh those bastards. Who do they think they are? A few years ago an author turned down an invitation to be in Oprah's Book of The Month Club because of these same worries: overexposure. But what is so wrong about letting as many people as possible know about your art? Nobody - nobody-- creates something just to hide it away under their bed. If somebody tells you otherwise they're an idiot, and lying right to your face.

It just really sounds backwords, and a little paranoid to me. There hasn't been any bands that have have had too much overexposure from The O.C. They have simply just opened their fanbase a little, not destroyed it, or diluted it...or whatever. Okay, so The Killers appeared on The O.C last season and some might say they are overexposed. But that wasn't because of their appearance on The O.C. It was simply because they were a great band and people played their music nonstop. But Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah? They're not as good as The Killers.

UPDATE: The Daily Refill blog asked a bunch of cool bands if they'd appear on The O.C if they were asked. The majority of them said Yes. You'd have to be an idiot to say no to more records sold. And re: the first comment in the comment section -- the bands might be looking for another audience than the one who watches The O.C? Yes, they might be...but that time is wasted. They're looking for an audience that's going to find them anyway. I doubt that most people who watch The O.C read crap like Pitchfork or have friends (like the LG Music Blog Master, Nixon) that introduce them to cool music.

So yeah...

The O.C is mainstream America's intro to cool music and bands should recognize that, embrace it, and take advantage of it.

NEW RELEASES - 09.27.05

I suggest you all pick up the Wolf Parade record. Might be one of the best of the year so far. I'm going to see them open up for the Arcade Fire on Wednesday and will have a live review then. Other interesting releases include the latest record from Blackalicious, Capture/Release from thh Rakes and the US release of Elbow's Leaders of the Free World. Enjoy!

Abandoned Pools - Armed to the Teeth (Universal)

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Jacksonville City Nights (Lost Highway)

The Band - A Musical History [Box Set] (Capitol)

Baseball Furies - All American Psycho/Sounds of Mayhem (Big Neck Records)

Big Star - In Space (Rykodisc)

Blackalicious - The Craft (Anti)

Blind Melon - Best of Blind Melon (Capitol)

The Bloodhound Gang - Hefty Fine (Geffen Records)

Calla - Collisions (Beggars US)

Cantankerous [EP] - Cantankerous (Tommy Boy)

Criteria - En Garde (Saddle Creek)

Sheryl Crow - Wildflower (A&M)

The Detroit Cobras - Baby (Bloodshot)

Baxter Dury - Floor Show [IMPORT] (Rough Trade)

Elbow - Leaders of the Free World (V2)

Electrocute - Troublesome Bubblegum (Emperor Norton)

Ex Models - Chrome Panthers (Troubleman Unlimited)

Grandaddy - Excerpts from the Diary of Todd Zilla EP (V2)

Growing - His Return (Troubleman Unlimited)

Her Space Holiday - The Past Presents the Future (Wichita)

The High Strung - Moxie Bravo (Future Farmer)

H.I.M. - Dark Light (Sire)

The Joggers - With a Cape and a Cane (Star Time)

Kelpie - Hey Friends, It's Kelpie! (Birthday Parties)

The King Of France - The King Of France (Echo)

Lil' Kim - The Naked Truth (Atlantic / WEA)

Logh - A Sunset Panorama (Bad Taste)

Mint Royale - See You in the Morning [ENHANCED] [IMPORT] (Zyx)

Mommy and Daddy - Dual at Dawn (Kanine Records)

Morcheeba - Antidote (Echo)

Ric Ocasek - Nexterday (Sanctuary Records)

Phonsynthese - Waldall (Elektrolux)

Porn Sword Tobacco - Explains Freedom (City Centre Offices)

The Rakes - Capture/Release [IMPORT] (V2 International)

The Ike Reilly Assassination - Junkie Faithful (Sixthman)

Tokyo Sex Destruction - 5th Avenue South (Bcore Records)

Various Artists - Children Of Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the Second Psychedelic Era - 1976-1995 [BOX SET] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] (Rhino)

Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary (Subpop)

LG RADIO EPISODE #20

It seems like just four or five months ago that the first ever LiquidGeneration Radio Show debuted. I get all chocked up when I think that this is already episode twenty. And it's all thanks to you, the listener(s).

Click here to listen - LiquidGeneration Radio - September 21, 2005

SHOW NOTES:

Intro music: "Ageless Beauty" by Stars
Monkey Goes to Some Foreign Country
Let's make fun of Spanish people
Monkey gets his car booted by foreiner
Spanish Girls or Mexican Girls?
Slippy's Airplane Trouble
Kate Moss Is A Drug Addict
Fall TV!
INXS and Their New Singer
New Music: "The Fallen" by The Franz Ferdinand
Nixon's Concert Review of Franz Ferdinand
Sigur Ros and Dead People
Outro Music: "Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens

ALSO: If you have any questions, comments, or flowers, please email us at LGRadio@liquidgeneration.com.

MTV WOODIES

MtvU has announced the nominees for the 2005 WOODIE AWARDS. Apparently they will also be having a first-ever one of a kind Woodies live music event on November 2, 2005 at the Roseland Ballroom in NYC that will honor "college" music favorites. While I am not sure exactly what all of this means, I do know that it has to be better than this year's VMAs. If you can't catch the live concert, well you need not worry, because you can catch the entire extravaganza on MtvU premiering November 10, 2005. Here are the nominees:

Woodie of the Year (Artist of the Year) The artists who made the biggest splash on the scene and on mtvU, yet somehow huge commercial success hasn't intoxicated them just yet. Nominees:

Fallout Boy (Island Records)
My Chemical Romance (Eyeball Records)
Common (Geffen Records)
The Arcade Fire (Merge Records)
Gorillaz (Virgin Records)

The Breaking Woodie (Best Emerging Artist)

mtvU is where new developing artists are test driven for the first time by the toughest critics around: college students. One of this year’s newest artists will win the coveted Breaking Woodie.
Nominees:

Matisyahu (JDub)
The Bravery (Island Def Jam)
Paul Wall (Atlantic Records)
Motion City Soundtrack (Epitaph Records)
The Decemberists (Kill Rock Stars)

Left Field Woodie (Most Original Artist)

They’re genre-busters. They came out of left field and surprised us so much, we’d still have no idea what section of the record store to look for them in. They resist all classification.
Nominees:

Saul Williams (Fader Label)
M.I.A. (Xl/Beggars US)
Matisyahu (JDub)
The Arcade Fire (Merge Records)
MeWithoutYou (Tooth & Nail Records)

Best Video Woodie Live Action (Best Live Action Video)

The music video that's so incredible, we'd watch it even without the music.
Nominees:

Death Cab for Cutie - Title & Registration (Atlantic Records)
My Chemical Romance - Helena (Eyeball Records)
Nas & Olu Dara - Bridging the Gap (Atlantic Records)
Nine Inch Nails - Only (Interscope Records)
Jack Johnson - Sitting, Waiting, Wishing (Universal)

Best Video Woodie Animated (Best Animated Video)

The music video that makes all of your favorite Sunday cartoons look foolish.
Nominees:

Aberfeldy - Love Is An Arrow (Sanctuary Records)
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc. (Virgin Records)
Aesop Rock - Fast Cars (Definitive Jux)
Rilo Kiley - It's a Hit (Brute/Beaute)
The Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) (Merge Records)

The Good Woodie (Greatest Social Impact)

The award for the artists whose commitment to a social cause has effected the greatest change this year.
Nominees:

David Banner - Heal The Hood Project
Coldplay - Oxfam International
Common - Know HIV/AIDS campaign
U2 - DATA: Debt AIDS Trade Africa
Kanye West - Loop Dreams

Road Woodie (Best Tour)

For those artists who take to the road and never let up, always giving that memorable live performance.
Nominees:

Muse (Warner Brothers)
The Arcade Fire (Merge Records)
Fallout Boy (Island)
Jack Johnson (Universal)
Common (Geffen Records)

International Woodie (Favorite International Artist Award)

mtvU embraces musicians from all over the world and honors this year's crop including artists from Africa, the UK and more.
Nominees:

Bloc Party (Vice Records)
Muse (Warner Brothers)
The Arcade Fire (Merge Records)
Keane (Interscope Records)
A-kon (Universal)

Alumni Woodie (a.k.a. The You're Still OK in our Book Award)

For the artists who’ve graduated into the wide world of mega-stardom, but who haven’t forgotten where they came from. And we’re proud to say, “We knew them when…”
Nominees:

Green Day (Reprise)
Common (Geffen Records)
Coldplay (Capitol)
Beck (Interscope)
Mos Def (Geffen Records)

Streaming Woodie (Most Downloaded)

It’s in your hands – For four weeks, your favorite artists will go toe-to-toe on mtvU.com. You vote your brains out each week and the four artists left standing in the end will battle it out for the Streaming Woodie.

Nominees:

Week 1
Hawthorne Heights – “Ohio Is For Lovers” (Victory Records)
Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc” (Virgin Records)
Usher – “My Boo” (La Face)
Modest Mouse – “Ocean Breathes Salty” (Sony)
Eisley – “Telescope Eyes” (Reprise)

Week 2
Aesop Rock – “Fast Cars” (Definitive Jux)
Death Cab for Cutie – “Title & Registration” (Atlantic Records)
MeWithoutYou – “January 1979” (Tooth & Nails Records)
Mike Jones – “Still Tippin” (Asylum Records)
Straylight Run – “Existentialism On Prom Night” (Victory Records)

Week 3
Taking Back Sunday – “A Decade Under the Influence” (Victory Records)
The Alchemist featuring Nina Sky – “Hold You Down” (Koch Records)
My Chemical Romance – “I’m Not OK (I Promise)” (Eyeball Records)
K’naan – “Soobax” (BMG)
The Unicorns – “Jellybones” (Alien8 Recording)

Week 4
The Afters – “Beautiful Love” (Sony)
Aberfeldy – “Love Is An Arrow” (Sanctuary Records)
Alicia Keys – “Karma” (J-Records)
Matisyahu – “King Without A Crown” (JDub)
The Postal Service – “Against All Odds” (Sub Pop) Pop)

For complete information on the mtvU Woodie Awards, including programming information, news, details on the nominees, presenters, performers and much more, visit www.mtvU.com.

Oh, and if you want to vote, and your in college, go here and do it before cotober 28th.

CONCERT REVIEW: SIGUR ROS

Slippy here...

Sometimes I am prone to gush about the things I love, and some of it may or may not be gush-worthy, but I know I am not delusional in saying that what I saw last night was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. The is something magical happening in the music of Sigur Ros. You have no idea what their saying because they don't sing in English, or Icelandic, or any other language spoken on this earth...you don't know what they're all about because they don't talk to you when they're up on stage...but at the same time you know exactly what they're saying and what they're all about when you sit back and listen to them play. Your mind just wanders when you listen to them...and goes places that you usually get to only in your dreams. Their music is depressing, happy, angry, yearning and hopefull -- all at the same time. I have never seen a band that sounded so good on stage. They can really play. The singer can really sing. The sound was just spectacular...kudos to The Chicago Theatre.

If you get a chance to see this band it's definitely worth the money. If you can't do that, stop what you're doing and get their music. All of it is good.

Back to writing fart jokes!

FRANZ FERDINAND

I saw Franz Ferdinand last night at the Aragon Ballroom here in Chicago. I got the new record, You Could Have It So Much Better, a couple of days ago and was just a little bit shocked as to how good it was. Don't get me wrong, I like the Franz, but was a little burnt out on them and not really looking forward to the new record. It's funny how the records you are least excited about have a tendency to impress you the most. Expectations are a bitch. I officially give up Expectations from here on out. In any case, the record sounds a little more grown up with a definite Beatles Revolver-era influence and a bit of 70s Bowie swagger that I didn't hear on the first record. "Eleanor Put Your Boots On" might be one of the best songs they've ever written. The record comes out on Oct. 6. If I were you, I would pre-order now. They are on tour now with Cut Copy and Pretty Girls Make Graves. Cut Copy are from Melbourne, AU and have a kinda electro-rock sound...think Soulwax with better songs. Their record has been out for awhile and is definitely worth checking out as well.

FALL TOUR:

09.20 - Chicago
09.21 - Minneapolis
09.22 - Kansas City
09.23 - St. Louis
09.25 - Austin
09.27 - Denver
09.28 - Salt Lake City
10.01-02 - Seattle
10.03 - Portland
10.04 - Vancouver
10.06 - San Francisco
10.07 - Los Angeles
10.09 - San Diego
10.11 - Las Vegas
10.17 - New York
10.18 - Toronto

Oh, and if you do see them live please confirm that Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy and both the guys in Cut Copy were wearing black tights. thanks.