Looks like Das Racist will indeed have their day in the sun with major coverage in the Village Voice, Pitchfork, and a nod from Perez Hilton. But I spoke first.
Archive for the ‘Pitchfork Media’ Category
Frederick Foxtrott Top 10 of 2008
December 30, 2008
There is no denying that 2008 has passed with breathtaking speed. Frederick Foxtrott comes to you this year with our list of top ten releases just a few days shy of 2009. Rather than spend New Year’s celebration in New York City, we are going upstate to spend time in the out doors, at the base of the Adirondacks. There is something poignant about spending what is typically observed by thousands of people crammed together with bright lights and loud sounds in the isolated cold with small but extraordinary company.
There is also no denying that this year proved to be an interesting time for music. The industry as a whole is largely tending to homogenize, with publications as banal as the Florida Times Union regularly looking to Pitchfork top ten lists to inspire their own critical hierarchies. The style generated over the last decade that has dominated the genre of independent music has become standard fare. It is blandly ubiquitous and overly diffuse. Nonetheless, while we got nothing perfect, there was plenty to listen to—plenty to listen to other than Vampire Weekend or Fleet Foxes, both of whom received the latest dose of sickeningly strange love from most indie media. Seemingly lost in the midst of the hollow recordings that dominate the suggestion pages of the taste-making press are truly great releases. So here they are—known and unknown—loved and loathed.
Top Ten 2008
1. M83- Saturdays = Youth
Expanding from shoegaze to stargaze, as his name implies, Gonzalez managed to not merely replicate a style modeled by Tears for Fears, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Flock of Seagulls, but he has retroactively contributed to the bleak genre of gothic pop in a way that is insertive rather than derivative. With modern instruments and production, Gonzalez (re)vitalized a style, giving color and texture to a genre that many feel has been muted by twenty years of impersonation and distillation, killed by retro themed knockoffs and karaoke bars alike (Read Review).
2. Conor Oberst- Conor Oberst
Even as he releases a self-titled record, suggesting biography, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band offer a personal narrative that is reflexive and acutely aware of where his lyrical perspective is anchored. Released on Merge Records rather than our beloved Saddle Creek, Conor Oberst is a record that disconnects from the iconic figure that the songwriter has become, allowing for the reclamation of personhood (Read Review).
3. Eagle Seagull- I Hate EPs (EP)
With its self-degrading title, I Hate EPs gives us a most vivid taste of what Eagle Seagull is up to. It is worthwhile to listen to every word on this EP. The lyrics are most certainly still emitted from the more noir recesses of our thought processes. They embody the violence that we inflict on one another with our thoughts, our lies, our manipulations, and the perfect memories that have since been pickled in the acerbic tension of current conditions (Read Review).
4. Sigur Rós- með suð…
Icelandic for “with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly,” með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust belies Sigur Rós’ self awareness that rejects the accumulation of star-power, instead favoring the humble roles of music makers with intimate attention to detail and an endless commitment to the art rather than constructed personae that sadly distract many once great contemporaries (Read Review).
5. Shugo Tokumaru- Exit
I am quite sick of the tendency for any musician who employs a whistle in their song structure to be labeled the next “Insert Nationality” Sufjan Stevens. Shugo seems to get shellacked with this honor quite often. His instrumentality relies on a menagerie of distinct sounds that have the sole intent of forming an effervescent ambience. I don’t imagine such a project can be said to be unique to Mr. Stevens. Indeed, Shugo Tokumaru’s Exit is one of the most original records released this year, and it is certain to endear many who listen. If you get the chance to see this guy upon his North American return, be sure to catch him at an appropriate venue, so that all the glorious array of whips and bobs don’t just float away (Read Review).
6. Hypatia Lake- Angels and Demon, Space and Time
There is the band and then there is the music. It is immediately understood when listening to Angels and Demons, Space and Time that Hypatia Lake has put together a record of enormous depth. The band itself is much less a physical entity, as it is a concept. The record is diffuse and eclectic, a psychedelic feast of beautiful noise and exquisite ambiances (Read Review).
7. Peasant- On the Ground
I have said previously that Damien DeRose’s voice is flawless, but his ability to bottle that beauty is remarkable. Usually such criticism is approached from the opposite angle. People rarely question what can be recorded after seeing such satisfying live performances. I have written at some length about Peasant’s talent and couldn’t be happier with this release. On the Ground offers 13 tracks without sounding repetitive or exhausting my patience and tolerance for sensitivity, which is rare these days. Peasant accomplishes this in part by keeping his songs under 3 minutes, making sure that the bitter moments do not overstay their welcome. I am happy to announce that Peasant will be re-issuing On the Ground in 2009 with the help of Team Love Records. If there is anyone out their with a modicum of taste, Peasant will make many more 2009 best release lists than he did this year (Read Review).
8. The Octopus Project- Hello, Avalanche
For those of you who are tired of bands that seek to reproduce the melodies of Tortoise, the sequence execution of The Album Leaf, or the gravity of Explosions in the Sky, know that Hello, Avalanche is a contribution to the modern music soundscape of unique and particular character. The Octopus Project allows the audience to dance as they marvel at a functioning collection of flesh and blood, rather simply to listen with a dissatisfied and disinterested ear. This is the balance they strike; they have a defined structure without sounding sterile or methodical. Who knew Austin…who knew (Read Review)?
9. Portishead- Third
No where on this record will you find the turntable scratching of Western Eyes or Only You. Clearly Portishead is not trying to recapture elements of their past. The lyrics are depressed and relaxed, sexy and sad, and in true form this relaxation is not brought on by contentment or happiness, rather it sounds opiate induced. It conjures the image of a dim room with the yellow haze of a poppy parlor (Read Review).
10. Magnetic Fields- Distortion
The Magnetic Fields…are extremely self-reflexively aware of Distortion’s influences and have taken steps to ensure that they do not appear to take themselves too seriously. This awareness not only saves the record from obsolescence, but it is exactly what makes it so relevant to how the music industry navigates itself forward, sometimes stopping to reflect on the nostalgic moments of its past (Read Review).
Other bands have blissfully welted the ears of the interested in 2008. Delta Spirit, released their debut, Ode to Sunshine. It was soulful and courageous. I usually prefer that bands keep their “gods” and “lords” out of my CD/MP3 player, but I’ll gladly make an exception for these impassioned song writers. Look for them on Jimmy Kimmel Live on January 16th. They split the rest of winter between Europe and North America, gracing the Bowery Ballroom stage on February 21st.
Canadian melody makers Wintersleep released Welcome to the Night Sky, an incredible record that offers exceptional lyrics and noisy pop riffs. Frederick Foxtrott reviewed their debut and recommends them with complete confidence. Welcome to the Night Sky is lyric driven record themed with violence and sickness. The guitars are distorted and heavy, accompanied by a barrage of cymbal crashes, but Wintersleep never fail to ebb back, allowing the listener to hear the calm after the storm, in addition to the silence before (Read Review).
Frederick Foxtrott thanks all of you for reading and visiting over the past year. We have expanded our readership greatly and only hope to continue in growth and reviews. We have some interesting things planned in the coming months so stay tuned. If you would like your record reviewed, give us an email and we will arrange something. We aim to keep you informed of not just what is happening in the world of independent music, but what should be happening.
Happy New Year,
Frederick Foxtrott
After the Jump Festival Comes to Galapagos
June 10, 2008
Organized by every blogger in NYC except Frederick Foxtrott, this exciting event comes to Galapagos Art Space and Music Hall of Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on June 21st.
The opening act will be chosen by After the Jump and Stereofame.com, who have gotten together and devised a contest to allow an unsigned band to play first at this years festival. This slot also includes $2,000 in cash. Voting takes place on Stereofame.com and concludes on the 10th (tomorrow). While there seems to be entirely to many “and the” bands, it looks to be a fun show and it’s to raise money for struggling schools, can’t beat that right? Starts at 12:OOPM. Click on their name for their My Space or Website.
Other Acts:
Papercranes
Lissie Trullie
Wakey! Wakey!
The Antlers
Brian Scary and the Shredding Tears
The Shackletons
The Forms
Pela
Captain Ahab and the Crackens
Alex and the Horribles
Dinowalrus
The Austerity Program
Snake & Jet’s Amazing Bullit Band
Chairlift
Power Douglas
Ponytail
Bell
Phil and the Osophers
The Bloodsugars
The Swimmers
Bridges and Powerlines
Senryu
Brilliant Sweaters
Noveller
Autodrone
Monotract
Extra Life
Fiasco
Later on at Music Hall:
Health
DJ XXXchange (Spank Rock)
Titus Andronicus
Pattern Is Movement
Mixel Pixel
Project Jenny, Project Jan
This set begins at 8:30PM with doors open at 7:30PM
Have fun, I’ll will be out scouting bands in Paris and Cork until July. So ttfn, I’ll send a postcard.
Enough Idiots…
October 19, 2007Okay reader…
I don’t owe Radiohead anything. However, I am compelled to respond to the ridiculous claims made by various media publications concerning the ethics of Radiohead’s digital release of In Rainbows. This article by USA Today suggests that Radiohead was dishonest in that they did not disclose that the current release was an MP3 of lower quality than the inevitable physical copy or the “standard MP3.” At only 160 kbps for God’s sake!
People are upset because Radiohead not only gets the money from the sales of the CD and Discbox, but they also get payed for their online release. Hmmm…I am not quite sure where the dilemma is on this one. I am an avid CD shopper. When I tell people this they say, “Wow…You still have CDs,” and I mean a lot of people say this to me. The people who want to have the music now can. The people who want to wait can, or they can pay nothing now and still get the CD (legally or illegally). Look in your collection and be honest. How many burned discs do you have? How long have you gone without paying for music? People seem to have forgotten that music producers owe us nothing, and we owe them nothing.
Fred Mills of HARP online makes the astute point, “Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood essentially stated the other day that it was never Radiohead’s intention to initiate some revolutionary new model of music distribution (labels have been selling downloads for some time, duh) or even to give away its music as part of some elaborate marketing scheme, but simply to prevent it from leaking out to the public prior to the official release of the physical discbox.”
These news articles and blogs have created a false problem. It was well known that a CD was to be released after the download date and that it was of inferior quality.
This quote from American Madness is a lie:
“Next up, the January release: How do you release an album online, let people pay what they want for it and then a few days later mention that you will be selling the official album in January? Radiohead is in for a double payday with this. As I said, shady.”
If people would have been paying attention they might not be so upset.
Consider the following articles:
Pitchfork: “Readiohead Album Coming Out as Regular CD Too” 10/01/07
Pitchfork: “Radiohead’s In Rainbows Primers on XFM Radio” 10/09/07
Yeah the title “Readiohead Album Coming Out as Regular CD Too” is slightly ambiguous. If you prefer not to view the links provided, I’ll directly cite them as well:
“Okay people! Take a couple deep breaths, count to 10, switch the caps lock off, clean up the triple espresso you just spit all over the computer screen, and check this: that new Radiohead album, In Rainbows? The one that the world knew practically zilch about 24 hours ago? The one that drops digitally (DRM-free, no less!) in nine days, for a price of your own choosing? The one that’s also coming out in a deluxe “discbox” in December? Well, it’s also coming out in good, old fashioned CD format early next year.”
And that was written October 1st, 2007!
Also consider the fact that Mr. Edge’s controversial comments about the intent of the download were made the week prior to the release of In Rainbows. He said, “If we didn’t believe that when people hear the music they will want to buy the CD, then we wouldn’t do what we are doing.” This is troubling for bloggers who claim they were duped into buying a free record, only to hear that a CD was on the way after the fact. Radiohead knew their record would be leaked, burned, and distributed by November, so they stayed ahead of the game.
If you truly believe this was a scheme set to maximize profits, you are missing the point. Anyone who complains that Radiohead is getting a “double payday” has bought into a fictitious controversy.
Good luck with that people.
I’ll be listening to Reckoner.
-Frederick Foxtrott
Radiohead- In Rainbows
October 16, 2007
Radiohead
In Rainbows
October 10th 2007
Unsigned
And so begins my obligatory review of Radiohead’s self-released seventh studio album In Rainbows. In a marketing move unparalleled in recent memory, Radiohead surprised the music world with their short notice release. First came the THE MOST GIGANTIC LYING HOAX OF ALL TIME (in reference to the title of their 2004 DVD The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time), then came the light hearted apology from someone in the Radiohead camp (see comment below LP7 article), and then came the digital release of In Rainbows for a price to be determined by the purchaser, buyers throwing as much or as little money at the record as they please. The series of events unfolds daily.
I of course bought the disc-box to be released on or around December 3rd for $81.50 because I am a gimmick sucker who needs the liner notes, artwork, and vinyl records. Damn the greenback’s worthlessness! All of a sudden Radiohead was on every music blog known to man, woman, and child. Even the ultra hip blogs, too cool to blog on Radiohead, blogged about how they weren’t blogging about Radiohead. I on the other hand am compelled to add to the chorus of accolades you have no doubt already read. I will say it from the git’go, In Rainbows is an incredible album.
15 Step makes the perfect transition from Hail to the Thief, incorporating a hyper dense drum intro and Yorke’s gospelesque croon. One might assume that this bridge would continue into some extension of their sixth album, but In Rainbows is not contained within such a linear trajectory. Bodysnatchers reminds us that Radiohead hasn’t lost their pre-post-postmodern charm as recorded on Pablo Honey and The Bends and then perfected on OK Computer. As a delicate and contemplative Rhythm and Blues track, Nude delivers as good as any Radiohead song has ever delivered. The song is so sensitive you can hear the guitar pick click down the chord like a washboard. This song is easily among Radiohead’s best. All I Need is a heavy, erotic, almost oppressively desirous expression. Lines like, “I’m an animal, trapped in your hot car,” spoken with resigned conviction, induce the sense of weighty heat. In some ways In Rainbows is Radiohead’s most sexual album, if not because of the lyrics then because of the soft tension and resignation emphasizing vulnerability.
How do we even begin to deconstruct Faust Arp? Faust sold his soul and Arp co-founded the Dada art movement in Europe after the First World War. Dada was a self proclaimed anti-art movement. With Radiohead’s distaste for the music industry’s standard operating procedures, perhaps the title has to do with contractual relationships with commercial entities. It was only after Radiohead came out the other end of that meat grinder that they had the clout, the authority, and cultural standing to depart from the commercial structure and operate as its antithesis with 1.2 million records sold on their own on the album’s first day. While pinning meaning to a Radiohead song is rarely productive, this song is themed with voyeurism, with being watched, with performance, with expectation, and the relationship between the audience and the artist. Faust Arp is a short and gorgeous tune laced with a poetic string arrangement and provocative lyrics.
Reckoner is the crescendo of In Rainbows. Thom Yorke’s vocal melody and solemn vibrato tear away at the heart. The urban-trap beat contrasts with the violins and the phantom vocals layered throughout this perfectly crafted song. If you listen closely at the end of the track you can even hear the song transform into an up-tempo jingle. Reckoner reminds us why Radiohead is so good. They are prolific in both their creativity and their ability to construct new spaces in which to explore the human condition and the range of our collective experience. Yes, they are that good.
And on and on and on again. So much can be said for this record. In Rainbows balances the complex and the simple challenging the listener as it awes them. The closing track Videotape is a rather straightforward dirge lamenting loss and recognizing regret, wanting moments of our past back. Not to correct them or improve them, but to live them again, keeping everything exactly the same. As the song concludes, drums build into a slow polyrhythmic snare roll, as if to count down the seconds remaining in our lives. In Rainbows is not a retreat from their more eccentric work, rather it is a reaffirmation of their exemption from a linear trajectory. I cannot wait until the disc-box gives me 8 more.
http://www.inrainbows.com
http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace
Other Albums
Pablo Honey- 1993
The Bends- 1995
Ok Computer- 1997
Kid A- 2000
Amnesiac- 2001
Hail to the Thief- 2003
RADIOHEADLPSEVEN
September 28, 2007
RADIOHEADLPSEVEN
On a website labeled RADIOHEADLPSEVEN a count down can be found, ticking away days, hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds. Pitchfork brought this to my attention, however I am not sure, but I think Pitchfork’s math is a little wrong. My clock shows that the clock will reach zero at approximately 4:57 pm Friday the 28th, not 10am Saturday the 29th. So what does this mean? 4:57 pm on 09/28/2007. Any numerologists out there? The only thing this means to me is that it is time to go home from work. So this is 44 minutes from now. I had better publish this so I can say I saw before not after. What is it with all these internet mysteries…41… Pitchfork reports that the band denies affiliation with this site so we’ll have to see if it is simply a virus intended to doom hip kids everywhere… 32…24…I have been watching these numbers for too long. My eyes are beginning to hurt…11…I could probably leave work early but I am too curious to go now. I know it is a gimmick of some kind…10…And that it is working…9…I suppose it is too late to publish this. I think we should go through it together. Author and reader moment by moment…8…There is a line under the ticker that says Now Waiting. What does that mean? I am such a sucker. Is this a mock-up by Pitchfork? Why would they be off by 17 hours?…4…The suspense…2…My workmates are sitting behind me now…It has captured all our attention…1…0…Nothing…it redirected to a black screen. How lame. I am going home…Oh wait…
THE MOST GIGANTIC LYING HOAX OF ALL TIME
I’m NEVER GOING TO RUN AROUND AND DESERT YOU:)How to RICKROLL 21,232 people at once. REAL LP7 coming soon! X REX_HEATHO http://radioheadlp7.com/contact.cfm
Boo!
