07.20.09
Posted in ACL 2009 Preparation, Care, Sunday at 6:58 pm by jpnance
To set the record straight, I don’t particularly like the Raconteurs. Broken Boy Soldiers is boring and, even though Consolers of the Lonely is much better, I just expected more as a big Brendan Benson/White Stripes fan. I was even surprised at how unenthralled I was at the Raconteurs set at last year’s ACL. Add to that the last-minute cancelation of the White Stripes show in 2007 and, well:
The Dead Weather had better get this right.
Horehound is a gem and it actually gives Jack White a side-project chance to shine on stage as opposed to the ho-hum Raconteurs who can’t decide who to feature. I’m not so deluded to pretend that I don’t really just want the White Stripes (and, let’s be honest, the Dead Weather aren’t all that far from it) but I’m still looking forward to this show.
THE VERDICT: Jack White owes me.
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Posted in ACL 2009 Preparation, Care, Friday at 1:08 pm by jpnance
Emotionalism isn’t the latest album by the Avett Brothers (see: I and Love and You) but since the “latest” one isn’t out yet — and nobody seems to have a preview copy — the tracks I’ve actually heard include “Die Die Die”, “Paranoia in B Major”, “Will You Return”. Make no mistake: they’re really good and generally upbeat which is not what I’d expected.
I wasn’t sure how much I’d buy into this indie-folk kind of thing, considering how burnt out I’ve been on Rilo Kiley and the like (I’m looking at you, Saddle Creek Records). The Avett Brothers have a fresh sound to my ears, though. They’re adequately hip and bluesy at the same time and I’m definitely fine with that.
THE VERDICT: Sounds like a good afternoon possibility.
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07.10.09
Posted in ACL 2009 Preparation, Don't Care, Sunday at 6:36 pm by jpnance
Pretty standard country fare. Don Imus likes Jypsi and he’d know better than I would. Their tunes are catchy and they use a fiddle and they’re all siblings — like pretty much every other country act you’ve ever heard of.
Not that I tried incredibly hard but I couldn’t find a free copy of their new album, I Don’t Love You Like That, which, I don’t know, I guess I’ve come to expect during this whole project. Admittedly, I’m one of those awful people who just generally doesn’t spend money on music but still. It seems like a relatively unknown country group would be willing to front the tunes.
What do I know.
THE VERDICT: Not for me.
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07.09.09
Posted in ACL 2009 Preparation, Don't Care, Saturday at 5:44 pm by jpnance
I don’t think I’ve ever really heard Kings of Leon (although: forthcoming!) but my prejudice has decided that Deer Tick sound just like them. Uh, for whatever that’s worth.
Take some old-timey rock-and-roll, add a country twang, pulse for thirty seconds, and you’ve got Born on Flag Day. And, yeah, I really don’t know what else to say. There are a couple of choice tracks (”Easy”, “Straight into a Storm”) but it all seems so standard. That’s what makes my “job” hard, too, because these guys are almost the definition of my borderline.
I’m gonna say “no” on this one but I’ll live with the fact that I’ll probably end up checking them out anyway.
THE VERDICT: These guys are from Rhode Island? I’m so confused.
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