Here we go again… Make sure you take public transit or car pool!
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: August 4th-10th”
Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: August 4th-10th
Record Labels, Please Change Your Archaic Release Date Practices
For most of my life as a music nerd, Tuesdays were always my favorite day of the week. On Tuesdays, I’d stop at Strawberries Records in West Springfield, MA and shop the new release rack. I wouldn’t let myself leave without buying at least one thing. This is how I ended up with The Bends, as I had liked “Creep” but not Pablo Honey, but there really wasn’t anything else interesting out that week. As time has passed, Tuesdays have become less and less important, because now the release date for an album is somewhat random: when it shows up online, it’s released. Yet for some reason, the record labels are clinging to these release dates. And in many cases, they still release albums on different dates in different countries. This, for obvious file-sharing reasons, is beyond lunacy. This post is a plea for record labels to end the archaic practice of release dates. Not to help me–I’m well served by the Internet–but to help themselves.
The company I work for in my everyday life has a saying: “We make it easy for our Customers to buy from us.” When will the record labels adopt this attitude?
Continue reading “Record Labels, Please Change Your Archaic Release Date Practices”
Spinning Platters Picks Six: Bands That Seem Likely To Headline Outside Lands
(Update: Another Planet announced today that Tenacious D are going to be replacing The Beastie Boys… Odd choice, and one that I never would have expected…)
So, it seems that the good people at Another Planet are taking their time with revealing who will take over the headlining slot for the Beastie Boys. I’d like to take the time tell you which six acts are likely to take it over. This isn’t a wish list, this is a well researched list of acts that are popular enough to headline a large outdoor festival, that are currently active, are available August 30th, and do not have any other shows in the Bay Area within 3 months before and after the show. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six: Bands That Seem Likely To Headline Outside Lands”
Show Review: Sonic Youth, Awesome Color at The Fox Theater, 8/2/09
Sonic Youth released their first record in 1982. Since then, they have averaged a new release every year and a half or so. (15 full length releases, in case you are keeping track.) This doesn’t include eps, singles, benefit compilation tracks, soundtrack work, side projects, parenting, eating, sleeping, or other such things that take up time. And, arguably, none of them have been “bad.” Sure, you might not have listened to Murray Street in a few years, but it’s still a good record. They are without peer in terms of longevity and consistency. They have a live presence that has always been a force to be reckoned with. The youngest member of the band is 47, but they still play like they are in their early 20’s.
Continue reading “Show Review: Sonic Youth, Awesome Color at The Fox Theater, 8/2/09”
Album Review: Arctic Monkeys – Humbug
Arctic Monkeys – Humbug
Retail Release Date: August 25th, 2009
Leaky Faucet Acquisition Date: July 30th, 2009
The negative of listening to an early leaked version of an album is the possibility of subpar sound quality. I really hope that this is what’s going on with the new Arctic Monkeys album Humbug and not that this is the way they meant it to sound. Continue reading “Album Review: Arctic Monkeys — Humbug”
Album Review: The Sounds – Crossing The Rubicon
What do you get if you take a sampling of the Scandinavian delights of Abba and the rock-based Backyard Babies or Hellacopters ? Add in some Max Martin style production and maybe even some A-Ha and you have The Sounds new album, Crossing The Rubicon.
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Spinning Platters Podcast – Episode 2 (The Co-Pilot)
Episode 2 of the Spinning Platters podcast has us finding our way into a regular format. Join us this episode to hear us talk about:
- The Skankin’ Pickle
- The Dismemberment Plan
- Wanderlust Music Festival
- Crabcore
- Merce Cunningham (1919-2009)
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Podcast — Episode 2 (The Co-Pilot)”
Wanderlust Festival Diary: The Photos
I took quite a few photos at Wanderlust Festival: nearly 500 of them. Since I didn’t have any sort of media credential, you’re not going to see any amazing closeups of performers’ nostrils, but my handy pocket camera does a pretty good job of it. I’ve selected 19 of my favorites, showing every musical act I saw over the weekend and more. If you were there, I hope these act as a nice reminder of a wonderful weekend; if you weren’t, I hope it will inspire you to go next year. Feel free to share these photos around. Please just tell everyone where you found them! Now, on to the photo gallery. Continue reading “Wanderlust Festival Diary: The Photos”
Show Review: Jarvis Cocker at The Fillmore, 7/28/09
Jarvis Cocker struts on stage like the king of brit pop he is. Unlike most musicians/celebrities he is even larger in life than in pictures. His charisma is almost earth shattering and after about 20 years of performing he really knows how to work the crowd. His speeches between songs are hilarious and insightful. He makes it feel really personal, like he’s just talking to you whilst he is running around the stage posing and using the microphone in wonderfully phallic ways. Before the song “Leftovers” he proclaims “The Iguanodon is not aroused” as he swings the microphone limply. This was just the beginning of an evening full of quotes and great memories. Continue reading “Show Review: Jarvis Cocker at The Fillmore, 7/28/09”
Show Review: The Noisettes, Princeton at The Rickshaw Stop, 7/28/09
The last time I saw The Noisettes, they were opening for TV On The Radio at The Fillmore in early 2007. They played a solid set of soul-inflected garage rock, similar to The Dirtbombs and The Detroit Cobras, only a touch noisier. They were also very shy on stage. They didn’t talk to the crowd, and stayed pretty reserved throughout the set. Two years, and several UK hits later, we have a completely re-identified band.
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