While 2011 wasn't my favorite year ever, it had some good music to redeem it, at least from where I stood.
So here, in no particular order, are the albums that defined the past twelve months of my life along with my rationalizations for why they captured my head and heart.
Yuck: "Yuck"
Last winter, back when a musician friend first told me how much I'd like this album, I was unprepared for how quickly it would become a mainstay in my CD player. Whether I'm making my ears bleed with Yo la Tengo-like distortion and Dinosaur Jr.-like guitars or getting moony to some sweet slower lyrics, this collection of songs has something for every one of my moods.
Favorite track: "Shook Down" because Yuck isn't just a '90s noise copycat.
The show: October at the Black Cat, here
Washed Out: "Within and Without"
A chillwave artist named Ernest sounds like the set-up for a bad joke, but I've been a fan of his beautiful sounds since I got 2010's EP "Life of Leisure" and made it my beach record. The new full-length is even lusher and longer, meaning Ernest can take me further into his world of swirling sounds.
Favorite track: "Eyes Be Closed" because it sounds like the beginning of an evening with a lover.
Wye Oak: "Civilian"
Charm City never grabbed me like it has the past few years, first with Beach House and this year with Wye Oak. These two musicians can make a lot of noise and the resulting dream pop has enough full-on shoegaze to satisfy my needs while they can also do the earnest folk-based thing to balance it out.
Favorite track: "Holy, Holy" because girls and guitars are the root of all energy.
The show: September at the National, here.
Other Lives: "Tamer Animals"
Sometimes you hear a band and it just stirs your soul. That's how I felt about Other Lives, but the first time I heard them was live and their majestic folk pop made me wish I could make time stop. There is never a throwaway note or word sung with this band and I will sing their praises to the world.
Favorite track: "Dark Horse" because horns and folk music make me swoon.
The show: October at Black Iris Studio, here.
Bon Iver: "Bon Iver"
Believe me, I hate putting something so obvious on my list but even if no one else had, I would have had to. If "For Emma, Forever Ago" was the soundtrack to having your heart broken, this one is the sound of a man in love and so it's even more beautiful, if that's possible.
Favorite track; "Calgary" because his lyrics are poetry. "I was only for your very space." Sigh.
The show: July at the National, here
Raphael Saadiq: "Stone Rollin"
I'm happy to see how many performers are trying to keep R & B alive, or even resurrect it from what it has degenerated into. When I listen to this album, it sounds timeless to me, like it could have come from decades ago. Saadiq is mid-forties, so he may actually have memories of the music he is perpetuating. And thank god he is.
Favorite track: "Just Don't" because Stevie Wonder should always be an inspiration for the ages.
Sleepy Vikings:"They Will Find You Here"
I happened into these guys at a show and fell in love with their spacey guitars, chill drumming and overall jangly pop as they played their entire set seated. I won't deny their shoegaze influences but it's filtered through something simpler and more earnest.
Favorite track: "Calm" because it wears its emotion on its sleeve and that's a wondrous thing.
The show: June at Sprout, here.
Joy Formidable: "The Big Roar"
Last year's EP "A Balloon Called Moaning" made my best of list but I still had to put their first full length on this year's list. I worship at the altar of music from a cave and Ritzy and company deliver with an audio assault; her little girl voice and big fuzzy guitar (not to mention immense pedal board) are the stuff my late night dreams are made of.
Favorite track: "I Don't Want to See You Like This" because it charges ahead and leaves the weak behind.
The show: March at the Black Cat, here.
I know, I know. No one else could possibly have come up with this oddball assortment of favorites and call it their best of list except me.
But in my world, it's new music that makes the world go round. Well, among other things...
Showing posts with label yuck. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yuck. Show all posts
Monday, January 2, 2012
Thursday, October 13, 2011
A Yucky Night
It has been a week and it's been a week too long
There are several things that I've been doing wrong
One thing that I did not do wrong was drive up to DC in the rain to see Yuck at the Black Cat.
Oh, I would have liked to have had company, but despite plenty of friends who are Yuck fans, no one else was going.
There was no way I was missing them; despite being incredibly young and British, I think their take on '90s music is positively brilliant.
Naturally, I had built a food/drink stop into my itinerary before the show. Masa 14 offered an interesting concept (Mexican and Asian fusion) and location, location, location (same block).
Given the cuisine, I expected some nice tequila choices but I couldn't have anticipated a tequila menu with nearly 100 choices, priced from $8 to $80.
Needless to say, with my budget I stayed on the lower end of that price range.
Even so, the Casa Noble had a nice pepperiness and a floral nose that made me wish I had 100 tequila choices in Richmond.
There was no way I was resisting pork belly steamed buns (with red Fresno chiles, pickled onions, hoison, pineapple and lime) and was rewarded with the lightest of buns surrounding lean belly and singing with flavor.
The Wagyu beef and pork meatballs with cotija cheese, scallions and smoked tomato yuzu sauce were so good I'd have ordered a second dish if I'd had time.
Noticing the guys next to me looking at one's phone, I asked what people did in bars before cell phones.
"Well, ten years ago they watched TV and before that, I have no idea," the one said.
Is it just me or is that tragic?
Tragedy turned to high excitement when I got to the Black Cat for the surprisingly not sold out show.
Taking a seat at the bar, I was pulled into conversation by the guys next to me, both of whom worked for Apple and were still in adjustment mode.
I had far fewer tequila choices here but the bartender was charming with waist-length hair ("Sometimes I put it in a bun") and bared his soul by telling me that he has a thing for "office women" types.
"I'm just a working stiff, so I love to watch office women walk home in their low-heeled black pumps," he confided.
The things people tell me.
Playing first was Porcelain Raft which is really one guy, Mauro Remiddi, who sings and plays guitar while playing loops and samples of other instruments resulting in a great big sound coming from one person.
Wait, I think I've seen that done in Richmond.
But I liked his voice and his melodies were beautiful, even if the crowd talked over them.
I made it to the third row when Yuck took the stage to immerse us in their mixtape of 20-year old influences (you say J. Mascis, I say Yo la Tengo).
No nearly as loud as it could have been (which was good considering how close I was), they said that tonight's show was the third to last of this tour.
"Then we're going to go home and write songs and make another album and come back and play for you," guitarist and singer Max said.
They played most of their self-titled debut, minus my favorite track "Sunday," but threw in some newer stuff like "Milkshake" and "Soothe Me."
I was satisfied that they alternated between their faster-tempo stuff and the mellower songs since they do both so well.
Except for the two very drunk girls dancing and bumping into me and the people around me, it was a superb evening of music from a band that will no doubt sell out next time they come through.
By then there will be dozens of hair-flipping drunk girls (like the brunette) dancing and just as many holding onto speakers (like the blond) so they don't fall down.
Better I didn't wait until I had a companion for these guys.
You see the time it takes for you
Is the time it takes for me
Oh, so don't agree
There are several things that I've been doing wrong
One thing that I did not do wrong was drive up to DC in the rain to see Yuck at the Black Cat.
Oh, I would have liked to have had company, but despite plenty of friends who are Yuck fans, no one else was going.
There was no way I was missing them; despite being incredibly young and British, I think their take on '90s music is positively brilliant.
Naturally, I had built a food/drink stop into my itinerary before the show. Masa 14 offered an interesting concept (Mexican and Asian fusion) and location, location, location (same block).
Given the cuisine, I expected some nice tequila choices but I couldn't have anticipated a tequila menu with nearly 100 choices, priced from $8 to $80.
Needless to say, with my budget I stayed on the lower end of that price range.
Even so, the Casa Noble had a nice pepperiness and a floral nose that made me wish I had 100 tequila choices in Richmond.
There was no way I was resisting pork belly steamed buns (with red Fresno chiles, pickled onions, hoison, pineapple and lime) and was rewarded with the lightest of buns surrounding lean belly and singing with flavor.
The Wagyu beef and pork meatballs with cotija cheese, scallions and smoked tomato yuzu sauce were so good I'd have ordered a second dish if I'd had time.
Noticing the guys next to me looking at one's phone, I asked what people did in bars before cell phones.
"Well, ten years ago they watched TV and before that, I have no idea," the one said.
Is it just me or is that tragic?
Tragedy turned to high excitement when I got to the Black Cat for the surprisingly not sold out show.
Taking a seat at the bar, I was pulled into conversation by the guys next to me, both of whom worked for Apple and were still in adjustment mode.
I had far fewer tequila choices here but the bartender was charming with waist-length hair ("Sometimes I put it in a bun") and bared his soul by telling me that he has a thing for "office women" types.
"I'm just a working stiff, so I love to watch office women walk home in their low-heeled black pumps," he confided.
The things people tell me.
Playing first was Porcelain Raft which is really one guy, Mauro Remiddi, who sings and plays guitar while playing loops and samples of other instruments resulting in a great big sound coming from one person.
Wait, I think I've seen that done in Richmond.
But I liked his voice and his melodies were beautiful, even if the crowd talked over them.
I made it to the third row when Yuck took the stage to immerse us in their mixtape of 20-year old influences (you say J. Mascis, I say Yo la Tengo).
No nearly as loud as it could have been (which was good considering how close I was), they said that tonight's show was the third to last of this tour.
"Then we're going to go home and write songs and make another album and come back and play for you," guitarist and singer Max said.
They played most of their self-titled debut, minus my favorite track "Sunday," but threw in some newer stuff like "Milkshake" and "Soothe Me."
I was satisfied that they alternated between their faster-tempo stuff and the mellower songs since they do both so well.
Except for the two very drunk girls dancing and bumping into me and the people around me, it was a superb evening of music from a band that will no doubt sell out next time they come through.
By then there will be dozens of hair-flipping drunk girls (like the brunette) dancing and just as many holding onto speakers (like the blond) so they don't fall down.
Better I didn't wait until I had a companion for these guys.
You see the time it takes for you
Is the time it takes for me
Oh, so don't agree
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Picking Up Chili, Not Husbands
Here's what I would consider a small perfect storm: a new CD arrives in the mail moments before I leave for a mini-roadtrip to the far reaches of Hanover County. What could possibly be better?
I was off to the Frog Level Volunteer Fire Department to pick up chili made by their firemen to benefit the building of the Dawn Library. And now I had Yuck's young but mind-blowing take on 90s indie music to make the trip so enjoyable that I wouldn't want to stop driving.
It wasn't my first time trying to do my part to get a library in a community that desperately wants one; I was there last summer for a community fish fry, here and had a lovely time dishing with the locals and eating fresh-fried fish until I was stuffed.
Today's fundraiser was just a pick-up event instead of a group gathering. What I hadn't realized when I'd first seen the "Chili Sale February 26" sign a few weeks ago on my way to Fredericksburg was that you were supposed to pre-order your chili. Oops, rookie mistake.
So when I got out of my car and was greeted by the trio taking payments, their first question was how many quarts I'd ordered. Just as I began to blather about not knowing I had to pre-order, Evelyn recognized me and said, "I ate with you at the fish fry! How are you doing?"
She was right and it was flattering to be remembered. I guess it's hard not to stand out when you're a Richmonder in Dawn, but being recognized also got me chili despite my lack of pre-ordering.
The ladies asked if I'd noticed that they'd broken ground on the new library (I hadn't) and told me to look for it on my way back down 301. Then I was instructed to drive down to the window to retrieve my firemen's chili, Dawn-style (chunk, not ground, meat with beans).
Pulling up at the window, two women of the three people at the counter also recognized me and were delighted that I'd come up again. "You need to move up here! Do you have a husband keeping you in Richmond?" the enthusiastic Pat asked. "We need you here!"
I laughed, saying that it wasn't a husband keeping me in Richmond. The older gentleman at the end of the counter removed the toothpick from his mouth and laconically said, "Wouldn't be hard to find you one around here." The toothpick went back into position, but he was grinning.
The women made sure I'd been given the flyer about the upcoming pancake dinner, also to benefit the library. I'm thinking of asking some friends to join me for the scenic ride up and the carbohydrate-heavy dinner for a good cause. I know it'll be a good time.
Chances are Yuck will still be in heavy rotation for those inclined toward dreamy melodic ballads ("Sunday" could easily still be on endless repeat by then) as well as noisy rockers ("Georgia" just makes me feel so happily 1993). Fair warning to any potential shotgun rider.
And for anyone on the lookout for husbands, I hear they have a surplus in Dawn. Personally, I'm all about the pancakes and the charming company.
I was off to the Frog Level Volunteer Fire Department to pick up chili made by their firemen to benefit the building of the Dawn Library. And now I had Yuck's young but mind-blowing take on 90s indie music to make the trip so enjoyable that I wouldn't want to stop driving.
It wasn't my first time trying to do my part to get a library in a community that desperately wants one; I was there last summer for a community fish fry, here and had a lovely time dishing with the locals and eating fresh-fried fish until I was stuffed.
Today's fundraiser was just a pick-up event instead of a group gathering. What I hadn't realized when I'd first seen the "Chili Sale February 26" sign a few weeks ago on my way to Fredericksburg was that you were supposed to pre-order your chili. Oops, rookie mistake.
So when I got out of my car and was greeted by the trio taking payments, their first question was how many quarts I'd ordered. Just as I began to blather about not knowing I had to pre-order, Evelyn recognized me and said, "I ate with you at the fish fry! How are you doing?"
She was right and it was flattering to be remembered. I guess it's hard not to stand out when you're a Richmonder in Dawn, but being recognized also got me chili despite my lack of pre-ordering.
The ladies asked if I'd noticed that they'd broken ground on the new library (I hadn't) and told me to look for it on my way back down 301. Then I was instructed to drive down to the window to retrieve my firemen's chili, Dawn-style (chunk, not ground, meat with beans).
Pulling up at the window, two women of the three people at the counter also recognized me and were delighted that I'd come up again. "You need to move up here! Do you have a husband keeping you in Richmond?" the enthusiastic Pat asked. "We need you here!"
I laughed, saying that it wasn't a husband keeping me in Richmond. The older gentleman at the end of the counter removed the toothpick from his mouth and laconically said, "Wouldn't be hard to find you one around here." The toothpick went back into position, but he was grinning.
The women made sure I'd been given the flyer about the upcoming pancake dinner, also to benefit the library. I'm thinking of asking some friends to join me for the scenic ride up and the carbohydrate-heavy dinner for a good cause. I know it'll be a good time.
Chances are Yuck will still be in heavy rotation for those inclined toward dreamy melodic ballads ("Sunday" could easily still be on endless repeat by then) as well as noisy rockers ("Georgia" just makes me feel so happily 1993). Fair warning to any potential shotgun rider.
And for anyone on the lookout for husbands, I hear they have a surplus in Dawn. Personally, I'm all about the pancakes and the charming company.
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