Sonic Youth: In through the side door.

I came to Sonic Youth all of the wrong ways. It's almost embarrassing how long it took me to grasp it.  In college I was a big fan of Pearl Jam, so much so in fact, I embarked on a 13 date tour with the band with my roommate (at the time and for the next 8 years), Casey.  I worked all summer to pay for the trip, mowing, working for my dad, even painting a friend's house to have just enough money to go.  We started in North Carolina and made our way down the coast all the way to West Palm Beach, eventually over to New Orleans, and back up to Indiana.  We felt fortunate that this tour was even happening, as a tragic incident that summer at Roskilde, left Pearl Jam threatening to never tour again.   
Opening for the band for each of these dates was Sonic Youth.  I knew that they were a hallmark band of the 80's and 90's and that Eddie Vedder loved them.  Back then, that was enough to pique my interest in a band, but I pegged it as something weird that I probably just wouldn't understand.  Casey was more into that scene at the time, and informed me that they had just taken on a new member and that their sound was noisier than ever.  We went to a side show that they did in Chapel Hill, that was in a tiny, dingy club, just in the hopes that EV would show up.  It was a weird, noisy experience with projectors, static, and people with Pearl Jam shirts or skinny jeans everywhere.  I ended up picking up their subsequent album after the tour (after seeing a band 13 times, no matter how noisy you think they are, it does start to register), Murray Street, and some of the songs like “Empty Page” and "Radical Adults Lick Godhead Style” settled deep into my psyche, but still, I never considered myself a fan of the band.

Sonic Youth-Empty Page:


Soon after this, Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot came out, and revolutionized my sonic senses.  I had no idea at the time, but that new guy from Sonic Youth was Jim O'Rourke, who Wilco brought on to put the finishing touches on the album (a.k.a. "ruin" it).  O'Rourke became a full time member of Sonic Youth for albums Murray Street and Sonic Nurse as well as to produce Wilco's follow up a ghost is born.  As he vacillated between these bands, his influence on both became more evident.

Murray Street and ghost... are sister albums, two bands stripped down (SY of their gear, victims of theft; Wilco having lost 3 members in a year and a half) creating albums full of noise, 70's grooves and interlacing guitar crescendos.  The noise freak-out at the end of SY's "Karen Revisited" is not far from Wilco's 15 minutes of feedback that conclude "Less than you Think" (that breakdown in "Karen Revisited" could also be described as the birth of modern day Animal Collective, with Panda, Avey, and Geologist emerging from the rubble of jagged guitar feedback).  Fittingly, SY released Sonic Nurse just two weeks before a ghost is born, further showing O'Rourke was in the thick with both of these bands at this time.  This was a golden era for not only Sonic Youth and Wilco, each at their own creative apexes, but also for O'Rourke.

I have been running to this entire album a lot lately.  As previously mentioned, it's a great one to get lost to in the depth of a January Chicago winter.  There will be times where you get lost in the nuances and/or the noise, but it always seems to reel you back in with an amazing hook on a climax that you may not have seen coming.  Top running tracks include: "Disconnection Notice" (it starts slow, but a 2 minute building bridge takes care of that to carry you into the stratosphere), "Rain on Tin," (another one with an epic bridge that will call to mind Wilco's "Impossible Germany" with it's Television-like guitar synchronicity). You may get lost in the 11+ of "Karen Revisited" as the noise takes you to a far away, perhaps disconcerting place, but you will not regret waiting it out for "Radical Adults Lick Godhead Style" (a steady builder that yearning to burst apart, finally succeeds by ascending into noise suitable for the climax of any run). 

Sonic Youth-Radical Adults Lick Godhead Style:


For another taste of these artists check out the Tweedy/O'Rourke/Kotche (Wilco's drummer) collaboration Loose Fur, who also released a self titled avant rock album in 2003.

Happy Birthday to Big Steve Prefontaine in the Sky

A big happy birthday to one of the most inspirational American runners of all time, Steve Prefontaine, who's madman racing and training style still inspires runners and athletes around the globe.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."

"Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's a style. It's doing something better than anyone else. It's being creative."

 
-Steve Prefontaine

Go Do.

(Elliott) Smith Westerns...

So Pitchfork is sucking these guys new album (Dye it Blonde) off, and they're local, so I decided I would take them on a little test run. They are fun, it comes across like Elliott Smith on happier drugs, but to be honest, it didn't really do that much for me. They have that Beatles' pop sense, with all the psychedelic sounds on top, but it all just seems kind of flat (even though a lot of their guitar solos/riffs sound like George Harrison skyrocketing off into "Free Bird" - see "Still New"). Honestly, there's just not much of an edge to it, and there seems to be nothing that I haven't heard before.

Much like the Shins album Wincing the Night Away of 2007, and Vampire Weekend's Contra in 2010 (both sunshine-y pop discs released in the dead of winter), I think it will be a better listen on a breezy summer day. However, for a January run, it just didn't cut it. I found myself skipping ahead to Sonic Youth's Murray Street for something to carry me home on the back stretch (once again, more on the SY album soon). This is just an initial take, but it didn't do a lot for me the first time around (and not in an "I don't get it" kind of way, but more of a "I get it, and I've gotten it 1000 times before" kind of way). Beatles fiends should definitely check it out, though. It is some symphonic pop (MGMT comparisons are unavoidable), picking up where Smith (Elliot, not Western) left off on From a Basement on the Hill with warped Abbey Road-ian outtakes. Much like with Basement, with each track you can point to a Beatles band/solo song that corresponds. I hope it continues to grow and that the layers unveil themselves with more listens, and that it's just a little too juxtaposed for January.

Here's a track "All Die Young," which sounds like George Harrison run through a Mazzy Star filter.

Smith Westerns-All Die Young (from Dye it Blonde):




Also, in the meantime, here's an amazing video featuring a new Panda Bear cut, "Atiba Song:"

ATIBA EVANS Panasonic GH2 Skate from skatefairy on Vimeo.

Don't Go Running to Gordon Lightfoot

Don't go running to Gordon Lightfoot's Did She Mention My Name? anytime soon. You will end up laughing hysterically and not running very far. Songs like "The Last Time I Saw Her" and "May I" will cut any run short due to gasping for air between chortles. "May I" is a children's carnival of a ride with ridiculous lyrics explaining rules of a game that entail: "Finders keepers losers weepers, ring-a-round-the-rosey and catch you if I can" (sure you may write a great scene for Pistol Party while listening to it, but that does nothing for a run). I didn't make it far enough to listen to songs like "Pussywillows, Cat-tails" or "Something Very Special" featured on side two, but I can only imagine that they will provide the same. So I repeat: DO NOT RUN TO GORDON LIGHTFOOT'S DID SHE MENTION MY NAME? WHILE RUNNING.

Here's "May I" by Gordon Lightfoot-A final warning, DO NOT RUN TO THIS ALBUM (unless you like side stitches and hyperventilating):

7 Miles on Murray St.

Just posted my longest run since spraining my ankle last summer. I procrastinated big time on my weekly goal of 15 miles, and had to crank out 7 today. It was fun. I picked a route I normally run, added some distance to it, and went the opposite direction I usually go, just to mix it up. I've been on a huge Sonic Youth "Murray Street" kick lately. It's great winter music: bleak at times, icicle guitar sounds melting together, with really gradual builds that creep up on you and keep you going. Great stuff to get lost to on a cold, January run. Lots more about this album later this week, but for now, here's the opening track, "The Empty Page."


Sonic Youth-Empty Page:

The GO! TEAM!!!

I've mentioned the new Go! Team album a couple of times on here, but I keep running to it, and it keeps getting better. It's dense, so it all kinda goes by in a blur the first few times, but once it starts sinking in, it really carries you a long way. One of the early highlights is "Apollo Throwdown," which is aptly named. A lot of this album could be the soundtrack to a new Rocky movie, no doubt, but Apollo Throwdown simply invokes images of Apollo training and dancing around the ring. (It really makes me really wish that Sly would have gone back and made a prequel between Rocky II and III where we could have seen Apollo in his prime, because he was never a bad guy, the story just caught him at the wrong time).

Just when you think the song has peaked and couldn't be more catchy, a new layer emerges to transcend your tempo to a Rocky III training montage on the beach speed (without all of the man hugging and bromance that emerged from Rocky and Apollo when Rocky finally got it. I will not be missing this tour whenever and wherever it hits the Midwest. I'm hoping my buddy Danny, is famous for amazing concert get-ups (see the picture below for how he dressed at Titus Andronicus) goes dressed as Apollo Creed for this show. I will pay for the costume as long as I promptly get it back after the show.

The Go! Team's new album, Rolling Blackouts, is out in the States on Feb. 1st, mark it down as a definite purchase.

The Go! Team-Apollo Throwdown (Not every post on here will be about Rocky, I swear):

JTE

Not much to do with running, but this Justin Townes Earle song has been in heavy rotation at the Clark/Brent residence:

Friday Run

I went for a run in conditions that could only be described as the Rocky IV-outdoor-training-montage-in Russia-esque (Rocky had altitude and inclines, but never had to run on Clark Street in January in Chicago).  The snow was coming down at a ridiculous rate, to the point where you couldn't see a block ahead.  The winds were double-crossing, seemingly in my face at every corner (only in the Windy City).  And while most men were cowering next to their Friday night fireplaces, I was raging the streets on a wicked 3 mile course.  I had the shuffle on, and luckily "Everlasting Light," the opening track from last year's Black Keys' effort Brothers, came on early.  I turned off shuffle and rode the album straight through.  Clark Street, being angled, is always the most treacherous as the winds can really open up and wreak havoc in inexplicable ways.  Luckily, "Tighten Up" came on during this stretch and carried me through to Irving Park and I survived.  One of the more terrifying/rewarding jaunts I've had. 

Just go.

The Black Keys-Tighten Up (Do not attempt to listen to this on your computer while running.  Go download it):

Top Albums 2010

12.  MGMT-Congratulations - A lot of people were down on this album because it didn't pack the hits that the first one did.  While there are many bands that I rely on simply to keep producing hits, this album provided an interesting enough sound that I was more intrigued than ever by MGMT's potential.  They reached a level of sophisticated pop in songs like "Someone's Missing," "Flash Delirium," and "Siberian Breaks" that was more mature than anything off of Oracular Spectacular.  In the end, this may not go down as their best album, but it was certainly a major step in the direction they are heading.  Nevertheless that direction may be compromised as there have already been whispers that their record label will have more input into their next recording, and that they aren't that concerned about it <http://tinyurl.com/22v2dwt>, which is scary.

Warm Up With: Someone's Missing, Flash Delirium, Siberian Breaks

11.  Jamey Johnson-Guitar Song - I grew up on country music, in fact my first 7 concerts were Reba McIntyre with my mom (feel free to judge away at this point).  When I was a kid, I loved true grit country performers like Hank Jr., Cash, Willie, etc. and I still do.  However, when the modern day pop machine took over the the country scene, it turned me off to "new" country in general.  So listening to Jamey Johnson was a bit strange at first.  Before delving into this triple album, I had to break through the stigma about country music that had built up in my mind for the last 15 years.  This was a surreal feeling, as he wrote the album after the typical country music theme of hitting "rock bottom."  Johnson is clever, a great story teller, and has a badass take-care-of-it-myself persona, what more could you ask from your country singer?

Warm Up With: Lonely at the Top, Poor Man Blues, Macon

10. Free Energy-Stuck on Nothing - Steady 70's grooves that stick inside you.  This album comes out of the gates strong.  The first 4 songs are steady and a great way to get out of the gate.  It curtails a bit in the second half, as moments aren't as memorable (Ben Kweller seems to be hiding on side two), but nonetheless a great one to run to and just get lost on as it rolls.  Great party background music too.  Sweet stomp rock that no one will complain about, but someone will definitely ask who is playing.

Warm Up With: Free Energy, Drewam City, Bang Pop

9.  Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Sure, it's cool to like the Kanye this year, but the bottom line is, the first time I put this album on and ran to it, I went for 6 miles (the first time I had done so since spraining my ankle in the summer).  The production is truly amazing, blending genres, musicians, and spoken word for a really powerful mix.  While sometimes I'd rather him just keep his mouth shut and let the music play ("Runaway" is amazing background music, but when he starts singing about douchebags, I wish I could just turn the vocals off...how long is the term douchebag going to remain in our canon of words to call idiot people?  My friend John Leadley has a theory that the only people that still use the term douchebags are douchebags themselves...and I tend to agree.  Hemingway....), lyrics on songs like "Power" and "Monster" totally make up for it.

Warm Up With: POWER, All of the Lights, Monster

Titus Andronicus-The Monitor - American.  Rock.  Music.  It takes some patience to get there sometimes (half of the album's songs are over 7 minutes), but when the blitzkrieg kicks in, Titus will blast your teeth out.  A more produced affair than their debut, Titus expand on their sound with production and muscle throughout.  Equal parts Stooges, the Boss, and Mike Watt.

Warm Up With: A More Perfect Union, Titus Andronicus Forever, Four Score and Seven

7.  LCD Soundsystem-This Is Happening - Another solid, sophisticated effort from LCD.  Great driven tracks.  It lacks that "play anytime party hit" ("Drunk Girls" will quickly annoy, "Dance Yrself Clean" is amazing, but it takes a little too long to get there) but the driven sounds are still there and every song pretty well matches up with a previous song from a previous album, but is better.  "Dance Yrself Clean" is the album opener of the year.  As mentioned in the singles list, it takes awhile, but when it explodes, there's no turning back until the end when you want to start it over from the top.  You would never guess that (besides "Drunk Girls"), there is nary a song under 6 minutes on this album.

Warm Up With: Dance Yrself Clean, All I Want, I Can Change

6.  Jonsi-Go - This is the sound of springtime coming to life, of everything black and white being painted in color.  It comes out of the gate with strong driven pop numbers before backing it up with more contemplative sounds.  The live experience of a lifetime.

Warm Up With: Go Do, Animal Arithmetic, Boy Lilikoi

5.  Sleigh Bells-Treats - Muscle and aggression.  Get it jumping with this one and never slow down.  The perfect amalgamation of all things tough in music.  Laser beam guitars, stomp box beats, and in-your-face chants.

Warm Up With: Tell Em, Riot Rhythm, Rill Rill, Crown On the Ground

4.  The Roots-How I Got Over - A lot of people gave the Roots a lot of shit when they signed on to be the house band for Jimmy Fallon.  It didn't make much sense at the time, Fallon is a moron who got by on SNL doing what seemed to be Adam Sandler impersonations, and is terrible at interviewing people.  An unconventional move for such a talented band to say the least.  However, it turned out to be one of the most monumental moves they have made.  The show gave them the chance to collaborate with a plethora of other musicians who ended up on this record (Jim James/Monsters of Folk, the Dirty Projectors, John Legend, and freak-folk freak Joanna Newsome).  Their sound is tighter than ever as they clearly derived many grooves from background segments on the Fallon show.  The show has survived, they have brought a strange musical credibility to it, which almost makes it worth watching  (I would love to go back and see where many of these songs were born from segments of the show).  A true melding of genres that they never could have pulled off before all of these collaborations from the show.

Warm Up With: Dear God 2.0, How I Got Over, Right On, The Fire

3.  The Black Keys-Brothers - Based on the lists from the last two years, the Black Keys must be the best rock band in the world.  Is it possible to dislike them?  Their output over that time has included a Dan Auerbach solo record, the rock-rap revivalist record BLAKROC, and now this masterpiece Brothers.  The production tricks Auerbach has picked up from working with DangerMouse on the BK's previous album, and from the working with producers from the BLAKROC sessions, really pay off here as their sound is tighter and tougher than ever.  Patrick Carney's drum work doesn't even sound human anymore, his beats are so tight that you just assume it's a machine.  As they have done in the past, this album runs a little long, and wanders off course towards the end with a lot of mellow numbers, but where would the world be without a BK cover of Jerry Butler's "Never Gonna Give You Up," or the solemn confession "I'm Not the One?"  I'll take more Black Keys any day.

Warm Up With: Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, She's Long Gone, Sinister Kid

2.  Sufjan Stevens-Age of Adz - This one came out of nowhere.  Moments after Sufjan released a surprise EP,  he announced a new album would drop in the same month, and then posted the album online.  And as stated before, no one else in the world could have created this album.  It's dense textures demand multiple listens.  At first, it's so abruptly different and shocking (he could have at least gave us warning it was coming, so we had time to prepare) that it all blend together, overwhelming the listener.  With each successive listen, however, the layers unfold, revealing an unbelievable melding of his best electronic work over the years with his more recent orchestral soundscapes.  Every bleep and blip leaves you wondering, how did one person do it?  Even if he's not playing every instrument, he had to tell someone else how to play it.  He delves deep into his own psyche and addresses many of the institutions that have become a large part of his image.  As far as running goes, it's an amazing ride, the last track alone (clocking in at over 25 minutes) is the perfect song to crank 3 or 4 miles out to.  This one was really close to taking over the number one spot for 2010, and one day, when fully absorbed, it might.

Warm Up With: Age of Adz, I Want to be Well, Impossible Soul

1.  Arcade Fire-The Suburbs - So it all comes down to this.  Anticipation can often lead to severe disappointment, but this one lived up.  Upon initially hearing it would be titled The Suburbs, I wondered how interesting it could be and how much it could apply to my life (not being from the suburbs and abhorring most things suburbia), but this album connected more than any album I can remember.  It's strength is in its subtleties.  Much like Funeral, upon first listen, it doesn't wallop you over the head with a single or an overtly "rock" anthem.  You know you are unearthing something special, but it takes a lot more time to absorb than most albums.  As the themes pile up upon each other, and the steady beats keep pulsating inside of you, this album wins again and again.  Much like Radiohead's OK Computer, Arcade Fire have mastered the crescendo within a song across a wide spectrum of sound on this album.  "Modern Man" is minimalist, but it still builds, and while nowhere near the crescendo in "Suburban War", they are both equally effective at evoking emotions with a rising of sound.  So many of the songs on this album ("Half Light," "Suburban War," "We Used to Wait," "Rococo") no other band in the world is capable of making.  With its eclectic blend of 80's synth, Bruce Springsteen stompers, and Radiohead apocalyptic dream-scapes, this is the album of the year.


Warm Up With: Start with The Suburbs, and end with the Suburbs (continued)