Where It Started...

I keep thinking about this list every time I come home and finally decided to write it. A few summers back some friends posted the five records that shaped the way they listen to music and being back in this town does nothing but remind me of growing up. So here are what I think are the five records that really influenced everything I listened to past and present.

1. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
I cannot think of a single album that I have probably listened to as much as this one. Some of my earliest memories of not only music in my life, but just life in general are when my dad would play this album and sing along. It has always been my favorite record of all time and I can not realistically see that ever changing. It combines everything I love about music and fuses classic rock riffs, psychedelic lyrics, a sitar, and finished with arguably one of the greatest songs ever written.


2. Green Day - Dookie
This album made it's way into my possession sometime in middle school. I remember my dad owning the cassette and listening to it in the car when I was younger, but it wasn't until later when it would really opening my ears to punk music, despite the fact that it had already been almost a decade since Green Day had 'sold out.'




3. Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends
Out of all the records on this list, this is the one that has faded. The songs don't hold up anymore, but the memories that come with it will never go away. I remember hearing it for the first time in eighth grade and it opening a whole new world for me. Not only in terms of what would later be called 'emo' but also a new world of people. In a small suburban town, this album introduced me to people I still know to this day and established friendships that made high school worthwhile.




4. The Strokes - Is This It?
This was the first record I ever bought that made me feel cool. The Strokes revived rock and roll in the early 2000s and highlighted the New York scene. It was this album that inspired me to go to college in NYC, change the way I dress, grow out my hair, and countless other things that to this day I consider it one of my top ten favorite records. This was the band that made me want to find the next big thing, the next shift in music. And I'm still looking.




5. TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes
In my junior year of high school I downloaded this album and opened my ears to experimental music. This was not poppy and radio friendly, but in fact raw and underground. The noises that came off of this record were harsh, yet for some reason it called to me as something new and something I needed to hear more of. It led me to sounds pouring out of Brooklyn and gave me some hope that cool had not left New York and possibly would still be around when I would arrive two years later.

Joanna Newsom played Town Hall

A single spotlight shone down on an elegant harp as Joanna Newsom graced the stage for the opening number of her sold out show at Town Hall last night. Her majestic voice echoed the silent theater as she dazzled and mesmerized the crowd with selections from her three brilliant full length albums. She has been one of few artists over the past decade that has been able to release multiple albums that range in composition yet still retain her unique song writing skills. For just over an hour and a half Joanna pleased the crowd with classics such as "The Book of Right-On" "Inflammatory Writ" and my highlight of the evening, the set ending, "Peach, Plum, Pear" which was simply spectacular. While her songs are illustrious on record, she breathed a new life into them especially with her backing strings, horn, and percussion. While "Emily" was the only track off the exceptional Ys, new tracks from Have One On Me such as "Soft as Chalk" and "Easy" helped fuel the fire of my love for this new record. Her humbleness and quite beauty added a touching element to the show and the audience erupted in a roaring applause after each song to shake those nerves she claimed to have at the beginning of the show.

Setlist:
Jackrabbits
Have One On Me
Easy
Inflammatory Writ
Soft as Chalk
Kingfisher
The Book of Right-On
Autumn
Emily
Peach, Plum, Pear
--
Baby Birch

Beach House - La Blogotheque

Straight off the success of perhaps their best, if not just equally great, album to date Teen Dream Baltimore dream-poppers Beach House appear on La Blogotheque. However instead of doing the standard take-a-way show, the group played an almost full set on Soiree de Poche. This almost half hour show highlights the truly majestic voice of Victoria and the lush sound of the slowly dripping guitar for which Beach House are loved. The hazy camera doesn't quite focus on the trio which really allows for the elegant floating sound to permeate your speakers and showcase what a brilliant sound this band is capable of producing.

Joanna Newsom played Jimmy Fallon

In what seems like quite an unlikely pair, but then again she is dating Andy Samberg, Joanna Newsom made her second television appearance the other night when she was the musical guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. After releasing the daring, yet amazing, triple album Have One On Me she seems to be conquering all musical endeavors as of late, so why not late night tv? Let me also point out how simply beautiful she looks in this video. Maybe Samberg can get her a spot on SNL soon? Watch "Soft as Chalk" below and check out Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold cover it here.

A Sunny Day in Glasgow played Mercury Lounge

This past week had been one of the worst weather related weeks I have ever experienced in this city. Wind, rain, snow, freezing temperatures all peaked throughout the week so I decided to cap it all off with a late night performance by A Sunny Day in Glasgow. Franny and I head to the Mercury Lounge around 11:30 to catch these guys after braving the tundra of Manhattan. The dreamy shoegaze sound blasted through the speakers and invaded the small club with such power that it swallowed the crowd. The lush soundscapey textures combined delayed droning guitar, hazy electronica, and tremendous female harmonies recalling the 90's sound of the Cranberries. The band packed the set list with jams from both albums as well as a few new ones. Although they had to over come so tour opening technical difficulties the band still powered through giving each song full rich sound.

The White Stripes - Under Great White Northern Lights

Back in 2007 the White Stripes toured Canada for their 10th anniversary playing in every province and doing unique shows exclusively for the tour. Now the band is releasing a special commemorative box set including a documentary of the tour and an accompanying live album. The documentary, directed by Emmett Malloy, highlights the White Stripes explosive live show and off-stage moments across Canada. The box set ships March 16th and the film is screening globally.

Broken Social Scene - "World Sick"

It has been five years since the last, self-titled, Broken Social Scene record and today the band dropped the first single from their highly anticipated new album Forgiveness Rock Record out May 4. Once again the album will feature a great guest list including Feist, members of Pavement, and members of Tortoise/Sea and Cake. The epic almost seven minute track "World Sick" is available for a free download on the band's website and it sounds just as one would hope.

Japandroids - "Art Czars"

Noise rockers Japandroids have long list of tour dates ahead so they won't be releasing a follow-up to 2009's awesome Post-Nothing but fans need not worry. According to Pitchfork the band intend to release five limited edition 7" singles this year of unreleased songs backed with classic covers. First up is a song called "Art Czars" which they were playing last fall. Looking forward to all that follow. Learn more over at the fork or support independent music (and the economy) and buy the single at Polyvinyl.

mp3: Japandroids - "Art Czar"

No Age on Daytrotter

No Age dropped some new and unreleased tracks on Daytrotter today. The four previously unheard songs keep in check with the noise rockers classic stylings, the best the genre has served up in my opinion. Not too many of these noise bands have been able to keep my attention, but these guys keep in tradition with DYI customs and generally prefer the basement all-ages show atmosphere in opposition to the typical rock venue. Plus, along with Japandroids, they play the best guitar/drum punk around. They describe the track below as "very Husker to me, which is never a bad thing, this version shreds." Check out more over at Daytrotter.

mp3: No Age - "Depletion"

Joanna Newsom - "81"

After Joanna Newsom released the beyond epic Ys in 2006 I often wondered how she would follow up an album of that caliber. Recently she announced that she had risen to the challenge and would be releasing a triple album, yes triple on CD as well as vinyl, called Have One On Me which she described as a blend between her first two records. The first track from the album was quickly posted on the Drag City website and another one ("Good Intentions Paving Company") has appeared today. Both tracks sound great and are building my anticipation for the full release and her upcoming tour this spring.

mp3: Joanna Newsom - "81"