Why do I like The Walkmen so much?

When The Walkmen's latest album, Lisbon, was released last year, it by no means disappointed me. I liked it, but wasn't drawn to it the way I was to You & Me. Soon after its September release, I kind of lost interest, thinking it was a solid album, but just nothing special. However, six months later, I'm finding myself listening to Lisbon over and over -- front to back.

I can't really put my finger on why I like The Walkmen so much. They don't do anything all that out of the ordinary. But I find the more I listen to them, the more I like what they do. This was especially the case with Lisbon.

They can pack a lifetime of emotion into one 4-minute song better than most bands. I really think this is one of the best bands making music today. Period.

I'd Like to Fly, But My Wings Have Been So Denied

Alice in Chains founding member and original bassist, Mike Starr, passed away from a rumored drug overdose just over a week ago. Mike played with the band from its inception in the mid-'80s until 1993, just before the recording and release of the Jar of Flies EP. Starr's struggle with drug addiction was the rumored cause for his split with AIC, and later in life was well- documented on the VH1 series Celebrity Rehab's 3rd season. During the show, he often spoke of the guilt he felt over AIC's lead singer Layne Staley's death, also blamed on a drug overdose. Recently, Starr appeared on the eighth episode of the fourth season of Celebrity Rehab as an inspiration and testimony of sobriety; at the time of the taping he had been sober sixth months and seven days. On March 8, 2011, Mike Starr was found dead in his Salt Lake City apartment. He was 44.



sinking
draining
drowning
bleeding
dead

AIC - Confusion

Rest in Peace Mike.

I Couldn't Have Said It Better

Myself.

There's just always been something about Elbow, the band from a greater Manchester borough, but I could never accurately describe it. Admittedly, my love for Elbow's albums is only outdone by the pure feeling of joy and wonder you experience when seeing the band live. Having said all that, their music and my feelings for it remained to me largely indescribable. I mean, how do you describe awesomeness more precisely? However, while stumbling around the Internet and reading reviews of their latest album, Build a Rocket Boys! I came across someone who has done it quite well. Alexis Petridis of the Guardian uses three simple but accurate words when describing the music of Elbow "warm, generous, and inventive."

The warm vocals of Guy Garvey, the generous layering and arrangements that give depth, and the inventiveness that makes it all quite unique, that's Elbow. And in their latest effort Build a Rocket Boys! none of that is missing. Although the album isn't as heavy as the Mercury Award winning The Seldom Seen Kid or as traditionally percussion-driven as Leaders of the Free World, the newest album definitely has a place of its own. Described at first as "choirery," the album flows over you highlighted by Garvey's soft vocals and some help from the Halle Youth Choir, but upon further listen the album becomes more. Favorite tracks include "The Birds," "Lippy Kids," "With Love," "High Ideals," and "Open Arms."

I wouldn't suggest starting with Build a Rocket Boys! if you're new to Elbow, but for now, it's a pretty good place to finish.

My take on Radiohead's King Of Limbs

I’ve taken a couple weeks to let it digest a little, but I’m finally ready to put my thoughts on the new Radiohead album, King Of Limbs, down on paper – or on screen. Or whatever.

It seems like most of the people I talked to shortly after Limbs was released (a day early!) had a very similar reaction. First: Um, this sucks. Then, later: OK, this is pretty damn good!

While I didn’t hate the album upon first listen, it did definitely grow on me. At first I found it hard to be completely blown away by any particular songs – there are no all-out rockers that we ate up on In Rainbows (e.g., "Bodysnatchers," "Jigsaw Falling Into Place," etc.). In fact, Limbs features hardly any guitar at all, and most of it (especially the first half) sounds like it could be a Thom Yorke solo project. (Sorry, Ed O’Brien.) So nothing jumps out right away like the group’s masterful previous release.

But dig a little deeper and things come more into focus.

The second half of the album is really where it shines. “Lotus Flower” starts things off with a great Radiohead bass line and eerie feel. “Codex” – my favorite track on the album – is chilling and reminds me a lot of “Pyramid Song” off Amnesiac. Wrapping things up is “Separator,” which to me sounds the most like a full-band Radiohead song on the album.

After admitting to myself that I liked King Of Limbs, I still feel frustrated by it, like many other Radiohead fans. It clocks in under 40 minutes, with only eight tracks. Rumors abound about whether there will be a “part 2” to the album. When purchasing the “Newspaper” version of the album, it’s noted it will come with two vinyls. I’m not a vinyl expert, but it seems like they’d be able to fit this album on one record. And then there’s the final track of the album that repeats “If you think this is over, then you’re wrong.”

I don’t know if Radiohead will release a second part or not, but it would be nice. I enjoy King Of Limbs very much, but it definitely leaves me wanting more!

In relation to other Radiohead albums, I would probably rate Limbs middle-of-the-pack. Read my previous album rankings here. It would probably slide into the fourth or fifth slot for me -- definitely can't crack my top 3. But I don't think it's their worst album, either.

CLAPTRAPPED TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2010

1) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (7 votes, 26pts)

2) LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening (5 votes, 21pts)

3) The Black Keys - Brothers (6 votes, 16pts)

4) Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest (3 votes, 11pts)

 5) Local Natives - Gorilla Manor (3 votes, 10pts)

Claptrappers Lists:

Bryan O’Donnell 

1) LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

2) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

3) Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
4) The National - High Violet

5) Blitzen Trapper - Destroyer of the Void

Kurt Marquis 

1) Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me
2) Phosphorescent - Here's to taking it Easy
3) Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
4) Sufjan Stephens - Age of Adz
5) Damien Jurado - Saint Bartlett
 

Michael Reband 

1) Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

2) Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt

3) Emancipator - Safe in the Steep Cliffs

4) Cloud Cult - Light Chasers

5) Sage Francis - Li(f)e

Justin Sigalos

1) LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

2) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

3) Eminem - Recovery

4) The Roots - How I Got Over

5) The Black Keys - Brothers

Giles McVay 

1) Tame Impala- Innerspeaker
2) Blitzen Trapper- Destroyer Of The Void
3) Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest
4) Deftones- Diamond Eyes
5) John Butler Trio-  April Uprising

John O’Connell 

1) Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
2) The Morning Benders - Big Echo
3) Beach House - Teen Dream
4) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
5) The National - High Violet

Danny Haas

1) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

2) The Black Keys - Brothers

3) LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

4) Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

5) Beach House - Teen Dream

Jeff Totsch

1) LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
2) Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
3) The Walkmen - Lisbon
4) Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
5) Yeasayer - Odd Blood

Nicolette Stach

1) Portugal. The Man - American Ghetto

2) Yeasayer - Odd Blood

3) The Walkmen - Lisbon

4) Hot Chip - One Life Stand

5) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Adam Kosecki

1) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

2) Eels - end times

3) LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

4) Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

5) The Black Keys - Brothers

Michael Waszkowski

1) The Black Keys - Brothers
2) Foals - Total Life Forever
3) The National - High Violet
4) Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
5) Rogue Wave - Permalight

Katie Edwards

1) Broken Bells - Broken Bells

2) The Morning Benders - Big Echo

3) Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

4) The Black Keys - Brothers

5) Caribou - Swim

Tracy Johnson

1) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

2) Eels - End Times

3) The Black Keys - Brothers

4) Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid
5) Beach House- Teen Dream

A three-concert week

I know this is kind of late, but a couple weeks ago I packed in three separate concerts into one week. It was tiring, and my ears were ringing pretty consistently after it was all over, but it was ultimately a very rewarding decision.

First up was Band of Horses at the Riviera. As could be assumed from my previous post, due to the band's new album, I wasn't super excited for this show. I got there in the middle of the second song, and the Riv was pretty packed. They sprinkled in new songs throughout the set, while a PowerPoint presentation flashed random images on the wall behind the band. At one point, they went strictly with songs from their first two albums, and I was having a good time singing along. They wrapped up with "Is There A Ghost" and "Funeral" before taking an encore break. They came out and played the first track from their first album -- aptly named "The First Song." I figured this would be the end. And it should've been. (So clever playing "The First Song" last.) However, they ended with "Georgia," a Cee-Lo cover that I felt really let the air out of the building. Weak ending to a below-average show.

A few days later I went to see Deerhunter at Metro. This show was outstanding. They played mostly tunes from their newest album, Halcyon Digest, but they also tossed in some songs from Microcastle -- the highlight being "Nothing Ever Happened," which they turned into probably a 10-minute (at least) jam. The band was tight and they sounded better than most acts at Metro. I'd definitely go see Deerhunter again, given the opportunity.

Rounding out the long week of music was the heavyweight billing of Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem at the Aragon Ballroom. Hot Chip started promptly at 8, and they killed it. We were up close, and the sound was great for the Aragon. They played a decent mix of songs from their three most recent albums, comprising a set that was longer than your average opening act. It was a perfect lead-in to LCD. I saw LCD twice this summer, and they played the exact same set both times -- noticeably omitting two of my favorite songs off their newest album This Is Happening -- "Dance Yrself Clean" and "Home."

Luckily, I didn't have to wait long to find out if they'd leave these stand-outs off the setlist once again. The "Dance Yrself Clean" opener was one of the best live songs I've seen. Ever. Amazing buildup, with an explosion of energy when the drums kicked in. They played a number of favorites they also played this summer ("All My Friends," "Losing My Edge," "Yeah," etc.) before closing with one of my favorite songs of the year -- "Home." By the time LCD was wrapping up the set, I was pretty exhausted and sweaty. But it was all worth it.

It was a great week of music.

BOH's Infinite Arms: I've tried, but no

As I mentioned in the previous post, there have been a ton of great releases in 2010 -- many of which I was highly anticipating and then they came through big time. However, one release I was looking forward to that did not live up to my expectations is Band of Horses' Infinite Arms.

I've tried to like this album. Really, I have. But compared to their first two albums, it just doesn't match up. Infinite Arms is toned down a little. Not to say BOH's other albums are full-out rockers, but this new one is pretty tame. I like a couple of the tracks -- namely "NW Apartment" and "Older." But a majority of the album is a skip session for me. (Opener "Factory" is one song on this album I cannot stand.)

One difference on this album -- although not necessarily a detractor for me -- is that it features two songs, "Older" and "Evening Kitchen," that are sung by band members other than lead singer Ben Bridwell. The band took more of a "full band" approach on this record, which I appreciate, but maybe they're better off letting Bridwell take the reins by himself.

But then again, maybe not. As I said before, one of my favorite tracks is "Older," which was written and sung by guitar player Ryan Monroe. An article on BOH in Paste Magazine featured a quote from Bridwell that I liked a lot:

“I’ve been telling our management, or anyone involved—even Phil [Ek] before we started the record—that [Ryan’s song] ‘Older’ [was going to be on the record]. … There’s even people going, ‘I think it has a chance to be a single if you sing lead on it.’ And it’s like, ‘Fuck you, Ryan’s singing the song.’"

This quote gives me hope for the future of BOH. I don't think they're going to become the next Kings of Leon. I'm hoping they had kind of a dud album with Infinite Arms and will rebound with their next effort. I'm going to see them tomorrow night at the Riviera, so I'm hoping either they stay away from some of the new material (at least don't play "Factory" please!), or they play the new material so well that it makes me appreciate it more. We'll see.

Deerhunter -- Halcyon Digest

After a somewhat lengthy hiatus, this Claptrapper is back on the beat. I feel a little guilty for not writing during this period off, as there have been so many great album releases. 2010 has been an incredible year for music makers -- especially within the past five months or so. New albums from The National, LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, and The Walkmen will all most certainly be battling for my top 5 albums of the year. But I wasn't all that surprised that I would like those albums -- after all, those are some of my favorite bands around right now.

However, one album I recently came across that has surprised me a great deal is Deerhunter's new album -- Halcyon Digest. I'm not all that familiar with Deerhunter, but I have listened to their previous effort -- Microcastle -- and definitely enjoyed it. But nothing like this new album.

A halcyon is a bird that in ancient legend would nest around the winter solstice to calm the waves of the sea. This is a fitting image for this album, as a lot of the songs' lyrics deal with darkness and sleep, and the album as a whole has a very dark, foggy feel to it. The lyrics also are heavily influenced with themes of aging, and looking at and analyzing life in general. In the outstanding closing song, "He Would Have Laughed," Bradford Cox sings, "I get bored as I get older. Can you help me figure this out?"

The album opens almost sleepily with the song "Earthquake." It's slower and not my favorite track, but I think it's a good opener and sets the tone for the remainder of songs. After "Earthquake," it's pretty much 10 straight very solid songs. Songs that stick out for me are "Revival," "Desire Lines," and the aforementioned "He Would Have Laughed" (especially the last couple minutes of the song).

Pick up this album; you won't be disappointed! (And thanks to fellow Trapper, $G.00 for recommending this album to me.)

Best of the rest

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to complete our Lollapalooza countdown. Claptrapped would like to apologize to its loyal readers. But because the festival is still a couple days away, I thought I'd list the five bands I'm most looking forward to from the bands we didn't cover. Lady Gaga just missed the cut...

5. Spoon: I happened to start listening to Spoon soon after their previous Lollapalooza performance a few years ago, so I've unfortunately never seen them live before. They're a very solid band with a lot of good albums. Definitely won't be missing these guys on Saturday. They have a conflict with Edward Sharpe, so that might be a tough decision for some people, but not this Claptrapper.



4. Hot Chip: I kind of missed the boat with this band when they released their 2008 album Made in the Dark. It was a Claptrapped favorite, but I never checked it out until recently. Subsequently, I acquired their previous album, The Warning, and their most recent work, One Life Stand, and I quickly became a big fan of these guys. Another tough decision for Lolla attendees, as they go up against everybody's favorite: the Black Keys. I'll be at Hot Chip, for sure.



3. Yeasayer: I've seen these guys three times before, and they've gotten better each show -- by a lot. I imagine they will have to plateau at some point, but until then, I think I'm going to keep checking them out. The addition of a second percussionist really helped with the band's sound when I saw them last year, and I'm excited to see them play some of their new stuff. Yeasayer has the 4:00 slot on jam-packed Sunday.



2. The National: As Claptrapped's biggest National fan, this is probably to be expected. They're one of my favorite bands, so I can't pass up the opportunity to go see them. They have an hour-and-fifteen-minute set scheduled, with virtually nobody up against them -- Sunday at 7:15. Even though I think I like the National a lot better on their albums as opposed to live, I still can't wait to see these guys after the release of their outstanding High Violet earlier this year.



1. Arcade Fire: The thought of finally being able to see Arcade Fire makes me downright giddy -- and that was before I heard their new album, The Suburbs, which was released yesterday. I already figure this album will end up as a favorite of the year. This show is going to be epic. I know a lot of people are jazzed for Soundgarden, but there's just no way I'm going to miss these guys.

No. 27: Rogue Wave

Rogue Wave was formed in 2002 by lead singer Zach Rogue (Zach Schwartz) after being laid off and devoting much of his newly found free time to recording music. The band has released 4 albums to date, Out of the Shadow, Descended Like Vultures, Asleep at Heavens Gate and most recently Permalight in March of 2010. Rogue Wave has been compared to Death Cab for Cutie and The Shins.

Probably one of my favorite bands, and probably one of my favorite stories to tell as well. Pat Spurgeon, Rogue Wave's drummer, was born with just one kidney and his struggles with touring, dialysis on the road, and the search for a donor are featured in the documentary D-Tour which was on the series Independent Lens, and the twist in this story is really stranger than fiction. Check out this film, it's a beauty. The band's three earliest albums are some of my favorite chill listening, good albums for your hangover Sunday's, can't go wrong with Harmonium, Catform, or Bird on a Wire. Rogue Wave's Permalight paints a brighter picture with songs that have a little more punch and pop, Permalight and We Will Make a Song Destroy are good examples of their maturation.

The band plays Saturday at 1pm and it doesn't matter who they're playing against because you shouldn't miss it.

Rogue Wave's video for Chicago X 12 was directed by actor/comedian Bob Odenkirk.


Bob Odenkirk's - Rogue Wave "Chicago x 12"



bob MySpace Video