Marie Carney – Page 9 – Spinning Platters

Noise Pop Film Review: Strange Powers Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields at The Mezzanine, 2/28/10

MagFieldsQ&A_0000_edited-1 — Added Bonus: Q & A with Stephin Merritt, Claudia Gonson and the Directors

The film Strange Powers, Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields opens with Stephin Merritt being interviewed by one of the directors. She asks “What are you reading now?” and the question is greeted with a dark stare and stony silence. This is how genuine the film is in its portrayal of this iconic songwriter, which is demonstrated in the Q & A after the movie. Stephin Merritt doesn’t waste words. Much like his song lyrics, his responses are concise and thought out. The good news is, for the most part, so is the film. Continue reading “Noise Pop Film Review: Strange Powers Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields at The Mezzanine, 2/28/10”

Concert Review: The Kronos Quartet – Music From 4 Fences at Z Space @ Artaud, 2/24/10

The Kronos Quartet isn’t really the type of show we normally review. There are no earplugs required, you’re sitting in seats and most of the audience is over 35. In fact, it’s not even really a show, it’s more of a concert. But Spinning Platters wanted to cover what they are doing this Noise Pop week; a West Coast premier of Jon Rose’s Music From 4 Fences along with music written by various musicians more well known in popular culture. I especially couldn’t miss tonight’s offering: music composed by Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz fame (the other artists showcased this week are listed here). There were many things I expected from The Kronos Quartet, like professionalism and amazing talent and skill, but it was the surprises that make it an experience I highly recommend. Continue reading “Concert Review: The Kronos Quartet — Music From 4 Fences at Z Space @ Artaud, 2/24/10”

Album Review: Meaghan Smith – The Cricket’s Orchestra

Spinning Platters gets asked to review a lot of albums. And the ones I’ve been hearing lately? Awful. (Yes, I’m looking at you Nick Jonas. Why couldn’t your solo album sound like this!?!). So when I got an email last week from our managing editor Dakin asking me to review Meaghan Smith’s first album The Cricket’s Orchestra I was unsure to say the least. But Dakin told me “She’s a Canadian singer/songwriter who is influenced by music from the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. If you don’t like it, no one will and it would deserve a bad review.” And I’m sure he’s right. Continue reading “Album Review: Meaghan Smith — The Cricket’s Orchestra”

Album Review: The Magnetic Fields – Realism

From the opening notes of The Magnetic Fields’ new record Realism you feel at home. There’s the familiar jangly acoustic instruments and Stephin Merritt’s low drone of a voice mixing with Claudia Gonson’s sweeter one. The lyrics are clever and the longest song comes in at 3:26. This isn’t the strange distorted Magnetic Fields of their last record; this is more like 69 Love Songs revisited, sweet and expected. At first it feels too similar to their previous work to be anything interesting enough to keep you coming back. I struggled with this idea, then realized that I’d been listening to the album almost constantly for a week letting the words and notes seep into every part of my mind, like subtle magic. Continue reading “Album Review: The Magnetic Fields — Realism”

Album Review: Vampire Weekend – Contra

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been impatiently waiting for this album to leak for months. The teasing release of “Horchata” made me super excited (it is still available as a free download on the band’s website). Then, the next leak brought “White Sky” which made me stop and wonder if I really would like the album, or if Vampire Weekend would take it too far from their roots of mixing indie rock with beautifully complex afro-beats. After 24 hours of listening pleasure I can tell you that Contra is everything you wanted whether you knew it consciously or not. Somehow Vampire Weekend took 2008’s indie-juggernaut Vampire Weekend and ran it through a strainer, taking it apart and putting it back together with a controlled modern twist giving us a record that is smart and fresh, while still sounding like the band we know and love. There’s a heavy hand with the production polish, but that is what makes Contra different enough to keep it exciting and new. Continue reading “Album Review: Vampire Weekend — Contra”

Spinning Platters Picks Six (x2) – 12 Best Musical Moments of 2009 from TV or Movies

Since I probably watch more TV and movies than 98% of the population I thought I would bring you a list of great musical moments I saw in 2009. Please enjoy the videos below whether they are new to you or a reminder of your favorites. Please leave your choices in the comments, though I must mention two things were left off this list on purpose. First, the Michael Jackson movie This Is It which I did not see and will never see. The second, Kanye making an ass out of himself during Taylor Swift’s VMA award speech, isn’t really musical, or at least there is no song associated, so it didn’t qualify. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six (x2) — 12 Best Musical Moments of 2009 from TV or Movies”

Show Review: Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven at The Independent, 12/28/09

Cracker is a good band. They have nice fun upbeat songs, all the musicians are more than capable, their songs don’t all sound the same, and there is decent stage banter. The music is pretty straight forward likable rock. Much the same could be said about Cracker’s counterpart Camper Van Beethoven, especially since they basically have the same band members (take Camper Van Beethoven, subtract a violinist/guitarist and add a female back up singer to get Cracker). There really is no logical reason not to enjoy their live show, yet somehow, I spent the entire evening vaguely wanting to die. Why? Continue reading “Show Review: Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven at The Independent, 12/28/09”

Show Review: The Gossip with Passion Pit & Hey Champ at The Mezzanine, 12/10/09

When it’s a dual-headlining show I never know what to expect. Despite the great line-up, this one had two strikes against it to start: being at the Mezzanine and being sponsored by Live105. Not that I hate either of those things in and of themselves, but both tend to bring out people I am not so fond of. That was definitely true again, as a member of the Spinning Platters senior staff was accosted by a drunk concert-goer, making the evening seem unsuccessful and awful. But everything that went wrong in the Passion Pit portion of the evening (drunk bitches included), all became better in The Gossip portion. Passion Pit should take notes. Continue reading “Show Review: The Gossip with Passion Pit & Hey Champ at The Mezzanine, 12/10/09”

Spinning Platters Picks Six: Albums I Am Thankful For

On Thanksgiving, the holiday season begins with family, stuffing your face, and thinking of the things you can give thanks to. As a music nerd I would like to take time to thank the albums that have changed my life in one way or another. Some of them have brought me comfort through the years and others have helped to shape my musical taste and turned me in to the reviewer I am today. Some may surprise you and others should be extremely obvious to those who know me. To all of the artists involved I say a warm thank you and a happy holidays. To you, dear readers, hopefully one of these albums can bring you a little warmth on a cold winter day. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six: Albums I Am Thankful For”

Album Review: Robbie Williams – Reality Killed the Video Star

Robbie Williams proving once again he is as bad-ass as you can be on a pop record.

Chances are, if you are an American, Robbie Williams is the most famous singer you’ve never heard of. Not to say you haven’t heard his music, but the name Robbie Williams means nothing to you. In the UK he has sold more records than any other solo artist. He is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most concert ticket sales in a single day. He is the most popular non-Latin artist in Latin America. In 2009 his net worth is estimated to be 80 million pounds (134 million dollars). With his eighth studio album Reality Killed the Video Star he proves again what all the fuss is about, and the United States, once again, will probably not notice. Shame on you America. Continue reading “Album Review: Robbie Williams — Reality Killed the Video Star”