quickcrit - music reviews

The Crane Wife's Overdue (Ha!) Summer Shortlist

2009-07-12T12:22:00.004-07:00

In no particular order....
1. Beasts of Seasons- Laura Gibson
We saw her open for Colin Meloy awhile back, but only had a few of her songs until we were able to get this album. Poignant, winsome and sort of haunting. Not at all schmaltzy.

2. Further Complications-Jarvis Cocker
Okay, so I haven't actually heard this album. However, my faith in Jarv is vast and deep, and, as you can see from this video, the man clearly has taste.

3. Possible Blur reunion tour.
Whilst on the subject of the gods of Brit Pop, I can't forget to mention my deep excitement at the prospect of Blur reuniting. AncientIndianWizard and I would even get a babysitter in order to hear them live (should they travel to somewhere very close to us), thus fulfilling a dream we have both had since the mid-1990s. See those people in that video? They are living my dream.

4. Podcasts
I know, not technically music. However, All Songs Considered is about music. And sometimes so is This American Life. In fact, this episode of This American Life called "Music Lessons" made me laugh and then weep. Perhaps my tears were related to the fact that, at the time, I was in my first, tear heavy trimester of pregnancy, but I like to think that Anne Lamott does a pretty good job all by herself.

5. Okkervil River
Music? Yes. 2009? No. If it's not abundantly clear to you by now, I will go ahead and state the obvious: I haven't been real up to date about music lately. Maybe it's trying to finish graduate school, maybe it's trying to save money for the little person who uses many diapers, but so far this year, I've stayed in the realm of treating our itunes like a record store. Which brings me again and again to Okkervil River.

Tex's late-ass summer short list...

2009-07-10T20:33:00.006-07:00

1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz (specifically the first 2 tracks)

So far this year, my cups of coffee (which have been more numerous and stronger) have been accompanied by motivational doses of "Zero" and "Heads will Roll". Nothing makes me garden harder.

2. Dark Was The Night Comp

So much F'n relevent talent, it makes me feel bloated with rainbows. My favorites right now are the tracks by Yeasayer, Dave Sitek, Antony +Bryce Dressner, Riceboy Sleeps (who the fuck are THEY? awesome.) and Spoon (I didn't think I cared for them.).

3. Mos Def - The Ecstatic

Best non-ironic/semi ironic hip hop to come out in the last 3 years, at least. "Quiet Dog Bite Hard" is another great cold cup of coffee, splashed in the face.

4. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

Perhaps the best deserved hype in quite some time. I'd been reading about this album for about 3 months before NPR did their whole "Stream-it-for-the-week-before-it-comes-out" brilliant scheme they've been doing this year. The one and only review I've written for Quickcrit! I can ALMOST guarantee this will be #1 on my end of the year list.

5. Away We Go

Saw this movie last weekend. Enjoyable beyond anything I've seen in the last few years. Funny, touching, thought provoking. But what brings me to mention it here is the soundtrack, predominantly featuring (according to the wikis) "reclusive, scottish songwriter" Alexi Murdoch. His songs set the tone for the journey.....melencholy, hopeful, lonesome.

I Was A King Inteview

2009-07-10T09:00:00.001-07:00

I really enjoyed I Was A King's self-titled debut, so it was especially cool when frontman Frode Strømstad graciously answered a couple quick questions via email shortly before their concert at the Doug Fir. They are back in Norway now, but it sounds like they had a good time, so maybe they'll be back.

QuickCrit: How is the tour going?
Frode Strømstad: The tour has been great so far! Of course some shows and places better than others, but we are really enjoying being here. Always a lot of friendly people coming out. We like friendly people.

QC: Judging from your videoblog, your days seem extremely packed. Are you getting any time to explore any of the cities you play in? If so, what are going to try and do or see in Portland?
FS: Well that is the bad thing about the tour, that we don´t have any time to explore each city. But we see a lot of truckstops and roadsigns on our way. We've been trying to locate some good food in each city, basically the only thing we have time to do. For Portland, I met Marty [Marquis] from Blitzen Trapper some days ago, and he drew me a map, with directions and good places to go, and told us that Portland is the best, so we are excited.

QC: Which songs seem to be the crowd favorites?
FS: It is hard to tell, but I think "California" and "Golden Years" have been well received.

QC: You seem to pull in a wide range of fuzzy pop. Who or what do you think are your biggest influences?
FS: Hm, that is always hard to say, influences seem to change all the time. Right now I've been really into bands like Red Krayola and Licourice Roots. Also traveling around has a big impact on me. I have tons of new ideas after this round, so can't wait to come back home and sit down with a guitar.

QC: How did you decide to place such an amazing song as "Norman Bleik" at the end of the album?
FS: Norman Bleik is actually one of the oldest recordings on the album, and were not meant to be on any album in the first place. But when we started to mix the album, we gave it a new chance. I still don't think it is our best song. Since it is an album there shouldn't be rules about when a song should or should not appear.

QC: I don't know many Norwegian bands. Are there any other up and coming bands I should know about?
FS: Serena Maneesh (not up and coming, but new fantastic album in the works), Harrys Gym (which is Anne Lises other band), Bygdin (new project from the 120 days guys), Megaphonic Thrift, Maribel.

Blitzen Trapper - "Black River Killer" Video

2009-07-10T06:00:00.004-07:00

This song is always a crowd pleaser here in Portland, drawing whoops and cheers right about 2:14. The macabre video fills in some of the narrative gaps.

Gossip - Music For Men (2009)

2009-07-09T12:25:00.005-07:00

I am not usually one to gossip, but for a moment I want to chat a little about this flossy new album from the Portland-based trio, Gossip. Music for Men is all about powerful female vocals, courtesy of Beth Ditto, and dance-inducing drum beats and guitar riffs... and despite the album title, I'm pretty sure the ladies will dig it too. For a band that has its history rooted in punk and rock, and pays homage to early 90s Morrissey on the album cover, they have put together a pretty glossy party album that just doesn't quit. Perhaps it was producer Rick Rubin's influence that adds that heightened level of glitzy, Hollywood club sheen, but it is Ditto's voice that carries the tone and attitude of the album. If you are not into the dance tracks as casual background fuzz, then slap this on during your next run or gym trip and get the party started. It's certainly worth a listen, and a play during your next stint as a late night dance party iPod DJ. Check out "Heavy Cross," "For Keeps," and my personal favorite, "2012."

War Machine's 2009 Summer 5

2009-07-09T07:42:00.007-07:00

I just got 95% of the way through this post only to accidentally lose it, so I'm going to begrudgingly try it again. It's going to be shorter this time, though.

Apologies for not embedding the video. Keep up the good work, those that do, it makes it so much easier to decide for myself when I can just click a button and listen. I'd do it too, but I don't know how. Links will have to suffice. [Update: videos added]

"Sleepyhead" - Passion Pit

Passion Pit is on every one's list this summer, so no new ground here. But this song is a standard deviation better than every other song on the album, and there are some other great ones. Video rocks too.

Here's a thought. Most of us have heard the story where Michael Angelakos, who was not in any band at the time, made a Valentines Day CD of six songs for his college girlfriend. (Not a shitty mixtape, mind you, his songs.) The songs got passed around campus, picked up locally, they turned it into an EP and formed a band and turned the EP into an album and here we are. Sleepyhead, as I understand it, was on that first CD. Here's my question, did that song on the CD sound like the song as I hear it on "Manners?" Because if it did...holy shit! Can you imagine being that girl? Or even, being the dorm room roommate of that girl? I suspect, on that particular Valentines Day, there wasn't a whole lot of sleepy, but a hell of a lot of...well you get it.

I'm just saying she owed him. Big time.

"Nothing to Worry About" - Peter, Bjorn and John

This song is a little long in the tooth but I just discovered it. It makes me want to dance until my ass falls off...or until two minutes and 58 seconds are over. Whichever comes first.

I've got to get me to Sweden at some point. There's too much coming out of there right now that I love...except for the IKEA tool. I hate the IKEA tool.

"Arlington. The Rap."

You don't really have to have lived in Arlington, VA to understand this. It makes it funnier, but it's not required. Could have just as easily been Annaheim or Schaumburg. Except for the Green Line joke.

I can't believe I lived there for 5 years. Sigh.

"Gifted" - N.A.S.A. (Featuring Kanye West, Santogold and Lykke Li)

Look at that lineup. Do I have to even explain why the song is awesome? The best part is, it is awesome, as opposed to, say, "The Best of Both Worlds."Decidedly not awesome.

"My Girls" - Animal Collective

This is as catchy an Animal Collective song as I am aware of. And I love catchy. The album is pretty great too. Very accessible, which means I can like it. Close runner-up is the Camera Obscura song French Navy, another great song off an album I'm loving.

Femi Kuti @ 9:30 Club

2009-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I should start off by saying that I danced the entire show and that was after a long day that started with a West-East redeye, included a BBQ festival, three DC gogo bands (check out Mambo Sauce's "Welcome To DC"), plenty of beer, and a stop at a bar for a coffee, a water and two shots of Jamison. Following in his father's famous footsteps, Femi Kuti led the crowd through a boisterous set funky afrobeat. Although I was kind surprised I was still standing, I was swept up by the stage full of dancers, percussionists and horn players. However, for most of the show DC was it usual rigid self. Never known for its liveliness, it was still surprising how long the diverse crowd could resist the seductive shake of international dance music. As great as the performance was, the show fizzled out at the end as Femi rambled on about the virtues of tantric sex. Still a must see if you get the chance.

Ancient Indian Wizard's Sweet Sweet Summerjams

2009-07-08T21:34:00.007-07:00

Decemberists - Hazards Of Love 4 (The Drowned)
I love this album and have been meaning to do a review of it forevs. The story is pretty standard Decemberist's insanity and I love every second of it. My favorite song? The one about drowning yourself alongside your true love of course. This song makes me teary but so did the Pixar opening short about storks and clouds that played before UP.

Phoenix - Lasso
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is nearly a flawless album to me. "Love Like A Sunset" is kinda long but fuck it I like that song sometimes too. "Lasso" however is 2 minutes and 47 seconds of straight up radness to me. They're french and a french guy won today's stage of the Tour De France. I bet you he was listening to this song the whole time.

Jeremy Enigk - April Storm
I loved his last album and am pretty happy with his current one. For me "April Storm" is totally the crowning jewel on this record.

Enigk described this song to Billboard magazine as being "on a Ryan Adams/"Love Is Hell"-type of kick."

Oh what?!? Jer Bear you know how to make a dude super happy!

Passion Pit - Little Secrets
After hearing so much about these dudes I finally listened to them. I love "Sleepyhead" and "Little Secrets" a super duper lot. the rest of the album is good but nothing else catches me as much as these two tracks. "Little Secrets" wins here due to it's sing song backing vocals and disjointed clusterfuck back beat. Loving it!

Kylie Minogue - Wow
I have a history of loving me some Kylie. I think this song is originally from 2007 but it is now my summer jammy jam. I knew I was done for once she says "your so hot / get me into the shade"... I also like the liberal use of the flanger effect as a nice respite from the autotuner. 2007 is the new 2009!

Hot Catato's Summer Short List

2009-07-08T15:45:00.006-07:00

5. Copying dance moves from this kid and using them to make friends.

4. Discovery - I'm not a particularly huge fan of either Ra Ra Riot or Vampire Weekend, but a member of each got together to form Discovery and it's, frankly, wonderful. Especially this "Orange Shirt" song.

3. Supernova - "Mr. Hudson" ft. Kanye West
Don't tease. This song makes me want to party.

2. The Antlers - Hospice
When I'm done with all the partying to Supernova, I like to slow it down with this album.

1. Because really, there is no time like summer time to be on a boat. I really wish I was friends with T. Pain.

Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist (2009)

2009-07-08T10:00:00.004-07:00

After wallowing in a music rut, it feels good love an album again. In this case, it's The Satanic Satanist by Portland transplant Portugal. The Man. While last year's Censored Colors had its moments, nothing was as good as the killer lead single and future rock anthem "People Say", which meditates on war and loss over a couple sweet guitar lines and a great sing along chorus. It kicks off a solid set of songs that merge classic rock and psychedelic soul. However, like other standout modern revivalists The Features and The Jessica Fletchers, it isn't just about a retro sound or mood — the songs are loaded with pop hooks. Although I dig pretty much every song, my other two favorites are "Work All Day", which rides a great rhythmic and repetitive chorus, and "Do You", featuring imploring lyrics and huge fuzzed-out riffs.

Mona's Summer Short List(lessness)

2009-07-08T00:37:00.017-07:00

5) Danceable Hip Hop Songs and Summer Jammy Jams
I always inexplicably get more into hip hop in the summer and love the remixes of these already awesome tracks: Kanye West's "Love Lockdown" and Kid Cudi's "Day 'N' Nite." Unbelievably great danceable hotness that makes me car-dance with myself whenever they come on (looks more embarrassing than it sounds). But my summer anthem is Jamie Foxx's (feat. T-Pain) - "Blame It," especially that infectious chorus I know by heart. Not only does this track provide the impure thoughts, but it actually makes me wanna put them into action.. with or without the Goose ("gotcha feelin' loose"), the 'Tron ("gotcha in the zone"), or the Henny ("gotcha feelin' dizzy"). It's all good, just "blame it on the ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-alcohol."

4) Rediscovering Rogue Wave
Ever the huge fan, I've recently fallen back in love with their sonic beauty- namely, Descended Like Vultures and Asleep At Heaven's Gate. Tender, gorgeous, lush, melodic, layered, can't even begin to describe their arrangements. I've been known to fall asleep to "Missed" and actually lounged on my couch all pensive and shit last weekend listening to "Eyes" on loop (I do this quite often to their records, in general). Enjoy this favs. sampler: older (1, 2, 3, 4), newer (1, 2, 3, 4).

3) Going To Shows I Actually Care About vs. Being A Show-whore
I've been too tired for shows for shows-sake and these days only hit up "must-sees" or else I'll get in a fight with myself and brood for days type-shows. Stellar nights that have made my half-year: Phoenix, Harlem Shakes record release party, Duncan Sheik, Blind Pilot, and the GUK reunion show. All uber-worth it and kept me in a good mood for at least two weeks afterwards.

2) Indie Rock In Advertisements...?
TV-watching feels like less of a waste with all the goodass music in commercials of late. I don't even hit the mute button anymore just in case I may hear The Dodos hawk Miller Chill, The Moody Blues add to the wondrous nature of this Visa ad, Matt and Kim invite me out 'til "Daylight," Mazzy Star makes me rethink my cellular service (effin love this song!), The Submarines sell their souls to Apple, and/or watch Her Space Holiday soundtrack this confusing one.

1) Meeting Musical Peoples
Surreality mixed with WTF, with a dash of "I must call everyone I know/someone who'd care!?" I've discussed Dan Auerbach with Matt Pinfield as he exited his cab, jumped into another and learned my driver had just dropped off Courtney Love as I sat in her warm seat (do I have an STD now?), got snubbed by Kimya Dawson, asked Michael Stipe the meaning of "Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite," discussed alternate endings to Once with Glan Hansard, stared at Ingrid Michaelson's incredible rack while jokingly trying to hook her up with Rhett Miller (within earshot), asked Hootie himself where the Blowfish were, laughed with Guster about their pot-smoking "star-fucker moment" with Willie Nelson, and unwittingly asked Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel if "the lasagna is vegetarian," only to realize 5 seconds later when he walked away that I'm an idiot who just asked Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel if the lasagna was vegetarian. Yeah, that last one was very Baby "I, uhh, carried a watermelon" from Dirty Dancing.

Deastro @ Holocene

2009-07-06T06:00:00.001-07:00

After loving his melodic synth-based album, Moondagger, I was looking forward to ecstatic dance floor, imagining something along the lines of Passion Pit's stop at the Wonder Ballroom. Sadly, the concert was sparsely attended and I think that reigned in the dancing to just a handful of fans. That didn't stop Randolph Chabot from delivering a spirited and kinetic performance, hopping and convulsing across the stage and occasionally covering himself in a children's sheets. The full band (guitar, bass, drums, and computer) emphasized the rockier side of their songs; although the synths and blips were featured on the album, now I heard the drums first. I hope songs like "Toxic Crusaders" and "Parallelogram"catch on because I'd love to see him in front of a packed dancefloor.

Happy July 4th Muppets Style

2009-07-04T09:50:00.004-07:00

Make sure you gorge on hot dogs and freedom!

Awmercy's Summer Short List

2009-07-03T08:32:00.013-07:00

Amazing Baby - Rewild (2009). I love catchy psych and this is by far my favorite this year, perfectly balancing the thumps and haze.

Passion Pit & Harlem Shakes @ Wonder Ballroom. I've been to a lot of great concerts this year, but this was a home run line up. I walked in hot on the Harlem Shakes, but was won over by Passion Pit as they wound the crowd up into a sweaty dancing frenzy.

Biking to Shows. Even when I am starting to fade a bit as the evening wears on and the bourbons wear off, zipping down Burnside gets me ready for just about just any show, and pretty much all my favorite venues are just a few pedals away.

Metric - "Waves". No matter how many times I've listened to "Waves", it never fails to make feel like dancing.

Portland Bands. I've never lived in city before that is home to this many great bands: The Builders And The Butchers, Blind Pilot, M. Ward, Loch Lomond, Blitzen Trapper, Hockey, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags, and The Thermals, to name just a few highlights. And the best part is that there are so many more I haven't even heard yet!

Brasilliant's Summer Short List

2009-07-02T11:56:00.020-07:00

I have admittedly been in a bit of a music rut lately -- kind of like the summer when I used my hot pink boom box to play this rockin' Cabbage Patch Kids cassette over and over again (the tape mysteriously disappeared for a stretch of six months). Luckily, Awmercy is a bit more forgiving than my parents, and hasn't forcefully revoked my playlist privileges. So here goes. My way overplayed hits of the summer, plus a bright spot on the horizon:

1. Blind Pilot - 3 Rounds and a Sound (2008). I fell in love with this band the first time I heard their debut album. It's been a constant on my iPod and is making the way up the charts on my play count. Blind Pilot is my new The Weepies.

2. Paula Sinclair - Steady Girl (2009). I think one of the reasons that my music selection has gotten stale is that my favorite alt. country singers have not put out any killer material lately (ahem Laura Cantrell, Lucinda Williams). Paula Sinclair is a welcome addition as one of my favorite women artists.

3. Lilly Allen - It's Not Me, It's You (2009). This one was a grower. It wasn't as immediately catchy as her first album, so I initially dismissed the whole thing. I'll admit that was a mistake and I have quite enjoyed it over the past few weeks. A review to follow shortly, I promise.

4. Dolorean - You Can't Win (2007). I rediscovered Dolorean when Awmercy put it on a recent "mixtape" playlist. I'm sad that I missed them recently when they played live a Laurelthirst. However, since they're Portlanders, I'm sure they'll be back!

5. iTunes Genius: It's the bright spot on my music horizon. Ancient Indian Wizard and the lovely Crane Wife introduced it to me a month ago, raving about the awesome playlist-making magic that it performs. Choose your favorite song and iTunes compiles from your library a killer playlist. Since our household music cup runneth over with approximately 67,750 songs, I have the world at my fingertips. This gizmo rocks my tired music socks off and has introduced me to artists that have gotten buried in the mix.

Ve1cro's verano short list

2009-07-01T17:35:00.008-07:00

1. Voxtrot – Trepanation Party. A nod to The Cure and New Wave greatness/moodiness. Bring on the new album!

2. Haiwata! - Blacks on Blondes EP. When done right, an EP is the perfect length for my (sometimes) short attention span. These songs have a touch of The Replacements, Madness, and a heaping helping of Brit schlock. Yum.

3. “Brit Schlock” – Thanks to Awmercy for adding this phrase to my music vocabulary. It rolls off of the tongue quite nicely.

4. Emusic’s douchiness– Since 2005, I have been getting 90 downloads at $19.99. Muy bueno. Come July, my music package whittles down to 50 downloads at $20.79. LAME.

5. Miley Cyrus - The Climb. Total guilty pleasure that really speaks to me. Close your eyes and play it loud. Dudes, you have to keep the faith.

Jeremy's Summer Short List

2009-06-30T05:37:00.013-07:00

The Weakerthans, Reconstruction Site. I really really love this album, why didn't somebody tell me about these guys sooner? So many great little lyrical nuggets tucked inside the corners of these tunes.
Rilo Kiley, The Execution of All Things. I bought this album a year ago and I think I've listened to either "The Good That Won't Come Out," "My Slumbering Heart" or "Spectacular Views" practically every day since. So good.
Seeing the Drive By Truckers without Patterson Hood at the 930 club in February. The rest of the band stepped it up, I think to make up for Hood's absence. Cooley and Shonna Tucker passed a bottle of JD back and forth, Cooley almost fell into the crowd from too much energy, and towards the end of the show they let a volunteer from the crowd come up and sing "Life in the Factory" (a Patterson song) while the band backed him up. My guess is, if that dude's making a list of his Top 5 moments of the year so far, this one's on it.
Walking into The Pug on H Street last weekend, 5:30 on a Saturday afternoon and there's only a couple of customers in there with the afternoon bartender. Friendly conversation ensues. Bartender asks me what kind of music I like, I say, "I don't know ... alt-country? Uncle Tupelo?" He finds 86 Uncle Tupelo songs on his iPod, puts those on random shuffle, finishes up his shift, *leaves* the iPod and takes off. Nighttime bartenders don't touch it and the Uncle Tupelo Shuffle plays for another two or three hours as the place fills up. Actually it was still playing when I left, so who knows, maybe that bar is now all Uncle Tupelo all the time? Awesome.
The alternate reality where I managed to get my hands on a single ticket to one of the three(!) shows The National sold out at the 9:30 club in May. I'm such an idiot.

NightraiN's Shummer Short List

2009-06-29T10:42:00.007-07:00

William Elliott Whitmore - Animals In The Dark. Absolutely fantastic vocals on this one. With tracks like "Lifetime Underground," "Hell Or High Water," and "Old Devils" leading the way, Animals In The Dark plays like a beloved album from a long-gone era.

Murder City Devils @ The Great American Music Hall. What a show this was: Drunk performers, beer showers, a surging crowd, and all the songs you would demand from one of the hardest rocking, hardest partying bands of the last decade.

The Builders and The Butchers - Salvation Is A Deep Dark Well. Fantastic sophomore album that induces the head to bob, toes to tap, and the body to shake. Solid from beginning to end, this unique sounding band puts together an album that matches the enthusiasm and energy of their live performances.

Fires Of Rome - You Kingdom You. My album of the year so far. Great rock n roll tunes that both impress and entertain. Love the tracks "Damn Lament," "Love Is A Burning Thing," and "Bronx Bombardier." Party Time!

Auto-tune(ing) The News. Addicting and very quotable, shortaaay... "What you trying to say about Iowa?"... Should Auto-Tune continue to produce? "My brain says 'NO,' but my body says 'YES!'"... and making fun of Sean Hannity (The Real Angry Gorilla)... "surely you jest, I'm under cardiac arrest!" Damn good stuff, shortay!

TOP 5 OF THE OX

2009-06-29T06:00:00.004-07:00

Chicago based Nachtmystium goes back to their roots with a 4 song EP, Doomsday Derelicts which melts my face off. "Hellish Overdose" is the jam to crank up while floating down the Russian River drinking PBR.

Seattle based Black Breath released their first 4 song EP, Razor To Oblivion. This thrash-core is just what I'm into right now. Its kind of like cooking up speed metal and hardcore, and injecting it straight into my jugular. The title track, "Razor To Oblivion" is my #1 on the EP.

Katharsis is from Germany. The album is called Fourth Reich. 5 song album. Most songs are over 10 minutes. Same old Katharsis, ripping my guts out of my throat black metal. Album is so brutal. "Eucharistick Funereal" is my top song. I felt like I needed to go burn down a church to calm down after I listened to this record for the first time.

Xasthur's latest masterpiece, All Reflections Drained is mostly instrumental, and it is just as depressing as the rest of Xasthur's albums. SO GOOD. Not a great BBQ record, but super good to light some candles to, run a bath, and hold a toaster above your head.

Cold Cave a.k.a Wesley Eishold releases the super limited 12" Edsel & Ruby. This is a guilty pleasure. It sounds like if The Cure's Head On The Door, and Joy Division's Closer pumped out a kid on vinyl. The first song "Love Comes Close" is going to be on my record player way too long. It kind of makes me want to see if I can get to 2nd base with anybody on my couch. The DIY sleeve also makes me want to use the word cute...... WTF?

2009 Summer Short Lists

2009-06-29T05:59:00.002-07:00

Contributors were asked to list five things that rocked their socks in the last six months. Anything even remotely related to music was up for grabs, including bands that they have more than a crush on, videos they've watched too many times, and the summer jammy jams that make them create a dance floor in their kitchen.

Thriller - The Filipino Jail Version? (video)

2009-06-27T14:29:00.007-07:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again... Filipino people can dance! Big up to the inmates in lock-down at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the Philippines because even they have nothing but MJ love.

Chris Tsefalas - Follow The Sun (2009)

2009-06-27T13:27:00.005-07:00

This album took a little while to sink in, but now that it has, I am enjoying it like late-night nachos. The Portland based artist puts together a solid set of tracks that remind me a little of Sam Roberts' sound and style, especially "Not Coming Back," and the rockin' "See What You've Done," anchored by strong pop structure and assorted instrumentation and influences. With production administered by The Decemberists' John Moen, Follow The Sun has a little bit of everything. My favorite song, "Roses and Silk Sheets," features Latin-esque guitar work and beats borrowed from Manu Chao, with the voice-mailed rejection message introduction to boot, mixed in with a catchy pop hook. The bluesy "Bad Rat" saunters along like a Jimi Hendrix throwback, to lyrics written by Tsefalas' daughter, I am told. The others offer mellow guitar and piano work, with smooth vocals. All in all, this is a enjoyable album with some really catchy stretches.

Thriller - The Indian Version? (video)

2009-06-26T13:25:00.005-07:00

I can't even begin to comment on the what-the-fuckery of this, so I won't:

NightraiN's Top 5 Michael Jackson Moments

2009-06-25T22:37:00.004-07:00

5. I think I liked Michael Jackson best in his Janet Jackson phase(s), and McCauly Culkin in his Home Alone years, before all the nasty lawsuits... for example, "Black Or White" and the respective (not respectful) parodies...

4. MJ makes his South Park appearance... Shamonah he HE!

3. A little known fact: The lyrics to this song will actually make you dumber... but it is still a catchy-ass tune....

2. "Billie Jean" is by far my favorite MJ song, so here is a live version... dance-moves included...

1. And then there is the epic, and otherworldly, "Captain Eo," which I am proud to say I tolerated in its entirety through 3D glasses... MY obvious #1 MJ moment... Shamonah!

Michael Jackson - Captain Eo (Disneyland - 3D Glasses)

Kevin's Top 5 Michael Jackson Songs

2009-06-25T19:53:00.004-07:00

The greatest musical entertainer since James Brown has passed away.

Here is a list of what may be his top 5 songs. Who knows, most of them were pretty good.

Billie Jean—probably his most popular song as a solo artist and for good reason. He had already established the template that folks like Justin Timberlake and Usher continue to follow, but this is him at his strongest and most confident in terms of dancing, singing and composing.
Don’t Stop till You Get Enough—I’m struck by the coy sexiness of his vocals and not just in the spoken word intro. There’s real feeling to his phrasing that makes the song swing on top of an absolutely brilliant Quincy Jones arrangement. A great marriage of pop, disco, soul, latin, and R&B styles. Listen to this song with headphones and pay attention to Jackson’s own call and response vocals and his counter-harmonies in the refrain. There’s so much going on in this piece it’s hard to take.
Never Can Say Goodbye—Probably not the best Jackson 5 tune, but a fantastic display of his amazing power with ballads that continued to impress even after his voice changed. Real soulful stuff here, no wonder Issac Hayes covered it.
Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) — When this came out, it’s safe to say that Jackson sounded like no one else on this earth. You’ll immediately notice the vocal “hiccups” and his brilliant falsetto switches, but the song, which relies on a pretty standard pop riff really swings quite effortlessly due to his absolute mastery of melody.
Rock With You—This is the moment before the absolute supernova of the Thriller years occur. Really narrative singing here, with vocals that never overpower the sort of calm beauty of the song.

Eccentric? Hell yes. Bizarre Freakazoid? Sure, at times. The undisputed King of pop and modern R&B? Absolutely, no question.