Best Album Ever (Right Now): Sunset Rubdown's Dragonslayer

I don't know why I try to write music reviews.  I can't ever describe the genre of a band (outside of iTunes generic alternative, hip-hop, etc., labels), I'm completely misinformed about what is going on in mainstream music, and in the grand scheme of things, my music knowledge is miniscule.

But I know what I like, so I'll write about that.

As I've mentioned before, I'm obsessed with Spencer Krug, and more importantly, his band Sunset Rubdown.  I've been listening to them for years, have seen them in concert a handful of times, and have introduced nearly all of my friends* to them.  But for some reason, I did not have the album, Dragonslayer, until a couple months ago.  I know, what kind of fan am I?

I heard it at my favorite bar (The Black Rabbit) where my favorite bartender (Kent) was playing it, and I knew all the words, but knew I didn't have it.  So I went home and downloaded it, legally.  I'm sure my roommate and friends would attest to this, but it has not left my speakers since that day.

Lately, it's been my album I listen to when I'm cooking, when I'm writing (it may or may not be on right now), when I'm walking, and when I'm drinking.  By far their best album yet, Dragonslayer, still embodies the experimental sounds that Spencer Krug is known for.  Combine those with amazing beautiful and touching lyrics, and the instrumental technique, and the album becomes highly addictive.

There is not a single track I do not like.  Since downloading this album, I have begun checking the Sunset Rubdown website obsessively, waiting until they announce new concert dates.

In fact, I'm not sure I can even relate to anyone who hasn't listened to this album (there goes my Gemini over exaggeration), but in all seriousness, go, go get this album, spend the $7 or whatever it was on iTunes, and keep it on repeat until you know all the words.

I promise you won't be disappointed.

*All the worthy friends

Currently Idolizing: Ann-Margret

When I was a kid, my favorite movie was Newsies.  To this day I can still sing all the songs, recite all the words, and even do some of the dance moves.  It's a bit ridiculous, but hey, I was six.  Newsies was coincidently my first introduction to the amazing Ann-Margret, and I never thought much of it.  It wasn't until my recent years, more importantly, my first viewing of Tommy, that I realized that Ann-Margret might actually be important.

Maybe it's the red hair, or the fact that Elvis sent her flowers to every single stage show she ever performed in until he died, either way Ann-Margret has something.  From the 60s-now, she still gets cast as a sexpot.  To me, it's like she's the Swedish Sophia Loren.  Completely classy, sexy, talented, and timeless.

Ann-Margret, it may have taken me a while to catch up, but I salute you.

Currently Idolizing: Janelle Monae

I generally refuse to idolize anyone.  I feel like most of the celebrities in our modern culture are kinda vapid and boring (and addictive), and the other half are sort of flash in the pan and then they do something stupid and I give up all hope.  With Janelle Monae, that is not the case.

I first heard about Janelle Monae sometime last year after P. Diddy made some comment along the lines of "Janelle Monae is the most important artist of the decade" (I could be making this up, but I thought I read that at the time).  Well, if P. Diddy thinks she's super important, I have to listen to her and disagree.

Only, I didn't disagree.

Janelle Monae is awesome.  She started out working with Big Boi, is classically trained in musical theater, has opened for No Doubt, and is signed to Bad Boy Records.  And you thought that was impressive? How about the fact that she has probably the coolest conceptual album since The Grey Album.  Monae's concept album is divided into four parts (or suites) and it is based on Blade Runner and Fritz Lang's Metropolis.  Yeah...I'm gonna let that sink in.

Now pick your jaw up off the floor, and continue reading.

Her music is danceable, fun, and completely addictive.  I've had the first suite, Metropolis: The Chase Suite on my iPod for about a year, and although I've listened to it a million times, I listen to it every morning to get me pumped for work.  The second suite is dropping on May 18, entitled The ArchAndroid.  Her first two singles from the album are available for purchase, or to just check out on her website.

If you haven't check her out yet, I suggest you go do so immediately.  It's not every day a girl from Kansas City makes an album based on two of the greatest and most influential science fiction films ever.

New York Band to See: Wakey Wakey!

 I used to view concerts as my type of church.  I know that sounds super cheesy, but being a non-religious person, I used to look forward to the one concert a week I would attend while in college.  I used to save all the money I made in event promotions in college for concerts (where I would stay sober to save money), and in this event forgo all the birthday parties and club nights all my friends attended.  

Granted, when you are raised with a father who has thousands of albums and 25 years worth of Rolling Stone magazines, music does just become a part of your life.  And although I have no musical talent (aside from the viola, which I've played for 10 years, yet still totally suck), I love listening to live music and enjoying those experiences more then anything.  I try not to be picky, I will attend everything from rap to classic rock to obviously, indie rock.  This weekend I decided to take in the Harper Blynn and Wakey Wakey shows at Mercury Lounge.

You may know Wakey Wakey from the CW show, One Tree Hill.  And while that may be uncool in some circles, it does not negate the amazing performance they put on.  Ranging from solo pieces to pieces with 12 musicians (including a whistler and three piece brass section), Wakey Wakey put on a solid performance that could be enjoyed by nearly everyone.  Mike Grubbs is undeniably amazing on the keyboard and vocals.  Anne Lieberwirth is on bass, and while I obviously love female bass players (I one day aspire to be one), it was Anne's shy nature, yet incredible rhythm that kept me captivated.  However, I will say that my favorite band member was Patrick Doane on violin.  With his smallish build and elvish demeanor you would never expect him to wail so hard on a violin, even going so hard as to breaking a few of his bow strings along the way. 

Wakey Wakey is currently on tour here in the east, their next New York show is March 27 at Rockwood Music Hall.  Check out their music here, on their myspace.  

A Quick Side Note

Today I received my first nasty comment on my blog.  Considering I never get any comments on my blog, this came as quite a shock to me, and I decided that the best course of action was to just delete it.  After all, unfortunately, I am a human, I do have feelings, and getting a nasty comment, just kinda sucked.  

On this side note, I realized that I can be a super negative person, although I've been trying to keep this in check lately.  Recently, I have been filling my life with positive and happy people and have left myself feeling far more satisfied with my quality of life.  This revelation has made me wonder why people invite negativity in their lives at all.

I don't know about you, but I don't feel particularly great when I make someone else feel bad.  I don't feel better about myself when I push by someone on my way off the subway, or when I complain at a restaurant.  I feel like the nicer I am, the happier I feel about the world around me.  I know it sounds cheesy, but I like the idea of spreading around some sunshine and love, especially in a world that's pretty tough to live in sometimes.

So in response to this nasty comment I received, tomorrow I think I'll smile a little bit more, be less in a rush in the morning, and tell people in my life how great I think they are.  My recent behaviour is quite a change from who I was a few months ago, but I think I'm starting to like this person better....

Point: NYC

My close friends often hear me say that I "hate New York."  I know, I know, how could anyone hate NYC?  Well, being from the west, the land where I have mountains, lakes, trees, and stars at my disposal, I often find myself missing all those things.  Even if I hate all those things, I still have every intention of sticking it out in New York for a while, I have great friends that I love, get to see tons of concerts, have quite the pickings for vintage clothing, and love my living situation.

New York also gained another point for me today, and that is the ability to have anything delivered.  I often try not to be lazy enough to have anything delivered, weather pending, but after being stuck on the couch for two days with the stomach flu (which I have subsequently passed on to my roommate, poor thing), when I ran out of gingerale, and needed some soup today, the deli across the street had everything I needed.  So congrats New York, you won my heart today, even if I spent the time on the couch instead of out enjoying the sunshine.

Artistic Love of my Life: Spencer Krug

Okay, so I have been mulling over this posting for months, but have never really had the guts to write it. I am a very well-known love for singer/songwriter Spencer Krug. I'm not talking a crazy stalker love, or obsession, but more of an extreme musical appreciation, that can be overwhelming at times.

Krug is the lead singer for Canadian experiemental rock band, Sunset Rubdown. I discovered Sunset Rubdown while in university in Victoria, BC, and have had a long standing love affair ever since. My concert experiences are so:

1) I missed my mothers birthday party in Montana to attend their show in Victoria, BC, unfortunately I was unable to attend the show anyway.
2) The first show I saw was at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, two days after I had moved to New York. At the time I knew nobody, went by myself, and took the subway home to 207th street, alone, at 4 AM. This was also the night that Spencer Krug walked into the empty bar I was sitting in and I was too big of a pussy to say anything.
3) Going to a second show in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, by myself, while my parents were visiting from Montana. <--this was like two weeks ago.

And now I'm contemplating a third show in September, in Ireland. I have the travel bug and I figure what's the harm it coinciding a trip with a show of my favorite band?

For those of you that haven't had the opportunity to listen to Sunset Rubdown, then I suggest you go out and do so, right now. If possible, try to experience it on vinyl, because the Random Spirit Lover album doesn't compare electronically to the vinyl version. The lyrics are pure poetry, the format is unconventional, and the systematic layering and changing of sounds is arguably unprecedented in modern indie rock.

If Sunset Rubdown isn't your thing (not sure how I feel about you), then listen to Krug's other band, Wolf Parade. A little less experiemental, just as amazing. And rumor has it that Wolf Parade will be back in the studio in October 2009 recording a new album.

This post doesn't do Krug or either band justice. This is probably why I've hesistated to write it for so very long, I cannot find the words to describe the ebullience that comes over me when I listen to Sunset Rubdown. I swear, if they ever get mainstream, I'm not sure what I'll do :)