Grammys Performances

In a quick follow-up to last night's post on the Grammys, I figured I'd add the videos from two of the more notable live performances.  Radiohead's use of the USC Marching Band is interesting, and admittedly, I would probably criticize any other artist for doing it.  For some reason though, it works for this rendition of "15 Step".  And then there was "Swagga Like Us".  I'm stil undecided as to how I feel about this one.  I guess the black and white thing was cool, but, the song just seemed a bit off.  Plus, we probably could have done without the very pregnant M.I.A.  Anyway, check out the videos below.

Congrats to the 2009 Grammys Winners

Normally I'd just ignore the Grammys, but this year, it seemed that the powers that be went out of their way to actually listen to music, rather than just base it upon radio play and record sales.  That being said, I wanted to congratulate the following Animal Noises mainstays for their respective awards, as well as laugh at Katy Perry and the Jonas Brothers for failing to win awards.

Animal Noise Congratulates:

Kings of Leon

Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group with Vocals, "Sex on Fire"

Radiohead

Best Alternative Music Album, In Rainbows

Best Boxed Set or Special Limited Edition Package, In Rainbows

Lil' Wayne

Best Rap Solo Performance, "A Milli"  

Best Rap Song, "Lollipop" (Feat. Static Major)

Best Rap Album, Tha Carter III

Jay-Z, T.I., Lil' Wayne & Kanye West

Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group- "Swagga Like Us"

Pre-Screening: Beirut

Album: March Of The Zapotec/Holland

Artist: Beirut

Label: Ba Da Bing Records

Due Out: February 17th

Zach Condon made quite a stir last April, when he posted an apology letter on Beirut's homepage, canceling all the dates of the band's upcoming European summer tour, putting the band on indefinite hiatus, and promising only that the band would eventually, "be back in some form." Like many Beirut fans, I feared the worst. Luckily, not too long after, in an interview with the alternative Seattle newspaper, The Stranger, my fears were put to rest, when Condon confirmed that he had begun working on a new record, which he had tentative plans to release in the upcoming year.

That record is the double EP, March Of The Zapotec/Holland. A unique pairing of a set of songs inspired by Condon's recent trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, and a set of electronic songs which he credits to Realpeople, his pre-Beirut, bedroom recording project. On the surface, it would seem that these two sounds might clash, but in fact, they balance each other out surprisingly well. What really sets this release apart most from what we are used to from Beirut, is that the Balkan and French, European sounds that dominated the last two records have been traded for a brassy, funeral band aesthetic. The influences from the past records are still audible in the music, but it is decidedly more somber, and with the help of a 19-piece Mexican backing band, its instrumentation is very true to the region that inspired it.

The opening track of March Of The Zapotec, "El Zocalo", starts things off with what sounds like a lively marching band, gearing up for a big parade, circa 1945, setting the stage for the tracks to follow. This goes right into "La Llorona", a tuba and trumpet driven waltz, with few lyrics, but extremely dynamic instrumentation. A theme that continues into the next track, "My Wife", which is entirely instrumental, and then to "The Akara", one of the standouts of the first half. With mournful brass and a lockstep combination of metallic percussion and the strumming of a traditional, Mexican stringed instrument, it is one of the more fast-paced tracks as well. This song flows seamlessly into the brief, "On a Bayonet", and then onto "The Shrew", which Zach Condon has called one of his favorite pieces in multiple interviews. It's another waltz, like much of Zapotec, but one that develops slowly, reaching a speeding climax of tumbling trumpets and bass drum, and then easing back into its origins, closing the first part of the double EP.

Holland begins with "My Night with the Prostitute from Marseille", a song which many of you may have heard already if you happened to read about Natalie Portman's Big Change: Songs for FINCA compilation on the interweb last year. It's a bouncy, dance track, with deep bass and synths that evoke images of an evening near the shore in France, illuminated by only the moon and stars. The next song, "My Wife, Lost in the Wild", has a similar feel, but is much slower, and makes use of layered and differently pitched vocals, to the point where they are like another instrument, rather than the focal point. This is, quite possibly, my favorite track on the entire double EP. Following that, is "Venice", another tune that was on a separate compilation (the Believer 2007 Music Issue) before this record. It's reminiscent of early Beirut songs like "Fountains and Tramways", from the Pompeii EP, with its simplicity and lyrical repetition. The next song, "The Concubine", gives us something refreshing, that seems like it could even have fit in on one of the two previous full-lengths. It opens with accordion and bells, and has a steady beat that powers it along, as Condon croons. The final track, "No Dice", is completely instrumental, and is a fitting, energetic ending to a record that varies greatly throughout, with a melody reminiscent of "Sunday Smile", off of The Flying Club Cup.

Overall, I liked this release, in terms of being a solid EP. It also offered a unique vessel for Zach Condon to release some material of his that otherwise may not have seen the light of day. Zapotec expanded the band's sound in a way that I had not expected, but I was definitely pleased with. The main complaint I have, and I think other people may share, is it isn't as big and grandiose as their previous releases. If anything, the lack of brand new material just leaves Beirut's fans hungry for more in the near future on the band's next full-length.

Rating: 7.0/10

Best Track: "My Wife, Lost In The Wild"

New Ra Ra Riot Video, "Can You Tell"

Happened upon this and figured it couldn't hurt to give some love to fellow members of the Syracuse University community.  "Can You Tell," Ra Ra Riot's latest video is a good time- it's actually done in an early-00s theme (I feel), which is nice for a trip down memory lane.  You know, when we were hearing songs like "Superman" from Three Doors Down or "Swing, Swing" from the All-American Rejects for the first time.  Actually, I'd rather not relive that.  Still, I would recommend checking out this video, and if you haven't heard The Rhumb Line, I'd suggest doing so immediately.  The Rhumb Line is out via Barsuk, and in stores everywhere you could possibly imagine.

Matt's Track of the Week: "Seventeen Years"

Song: Seventeen Years

Artist: Ratatat

Album: Ratatat

Year: 2004

From the danceable beats and seamless blend of electric guitar and synths, to the jagged, heavy metal typeface used on the album's cover, there's something inherently cool about Ratatat's 2004 debut.  It's extremely modern, while still sounding like it could have been the soundtrack to a late 80s, early 90s video game.  It reminds me of a more laid back, but more rock-influenced Daft Punk.

One of the reasons I like "Seventeen Years", is because of the opening conversation excerpt, spoken by local Crown Heights, Brooklyn, rapper, Young Churf.  It's a calm and collected assertion of his own personal skills as an MC, with guitars building in the background, hinting at the burst of energy that is about to follow.  Something about it takes you off guard, but still seems extremely fitting, considering that the album uses such excerpts by Churf as a motif throughout.  It also shows a real hip hop sensibility, which the band has more recently showcased with remixes of songs by everyone from Jay-Z to Memphis Bleek.

Once the song takes off, you are bombarded by the intertwined guitar and synth elements which cut in and out of each other, along with the explosive percussion hits, constantly changing pace.  Not only does it have a great melody, but it immediately makes you want to get up and dance.  Check it out below.

New Live Tracks from Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear does a great job of giving their audiences sneak peaks of what they're up to, especially on TV and radio shows.  Apparently, the new record, which is yet to be named, is out in May, even though it's basically done, cover art and all.  According to the band, mixing's the only thing stopping us from hearing the album at this point.  I've liked what I've heard from their live stuff so far, and they've said that those songs have been tweaked and become fuller, so I guess that's a good sign.  Until May (or whenever someone gets a hold of this record which is sure to be one of the best of the year), these live tracks will have to suffice.  Enjoy, courtesy of Stereogum.

Grizzly Bear- "Two Weeks" (Live on David Letterman)

Grizzly Bear- "While You Wait for Others"  (Live at Morning Becomes Eclectic)

Grizzly Bear- "2 Hud" (Live in Boston, 08.14.08)

Grizzly Bear- "Fine For Now" (Live in Boston, 08.14.08)

John's Track of the Week: "With A Little Help From My Friends"

Song: With A Little Help From My Friends

Artist: Joe Cocker

Album: With A Little Help From My Friends

Year: 1969

Going back to older material, this week's Track of the Week is Joe Cocker's cover of The Beatles "With A Little Help From My Friends".  I'm rarely a fan of Beatles covers, but well, this one is an exception.  It's the complete reworking of the song- not just singing it like The Beatles did- that makes it endearing.  It goes from a shortish, fun song to a long and epic jam session, complete with gospel choir.  Plus, for those who may remember the hit show The Wonder Years (one of my all-time favorites), this is the theme song.  It's also the reason the show's not out on DVD yet (damn you, Michael Jackson).

Why is Joe Cocker so good at covers overall?  Like I said, it's the reworking- basic rewriting of it- that makes it standout, and makes people pay attention.  There are so many covers out there, yet very few good ones, and very few good cover artists.  With that in mind, Joe Cocker's one of only a handful who's quite good at his craft, and this song may be his best work.  Enjoy, while having flashbacks to images of Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper.

New Walkmen Video, "Four Provinces"

As anyone who's read this blog in the past couple of months knows, we love The Walkmen's most recent album, You & Me, which came out in the latter half of last year.  Below is a video from said album, for the song "Four Provinces".  It, like all of the tracks on the album, is fantastic, and the shots of the Himalayas, etc. also make for a nice touch here.  Enjoy.

Video via Pitchfork.TV

Bonnaroo's 2009 Lineup

Since I did a post about Coachella's lineup the other day, I thought it was only fair that I also took some time to mention the lineup for Bonnaroo as well.  Artists that I care about on the docket this year (in order of importance as deemed by Bonnaroo):

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Beastie Boys

Wilco

Snoop Dogg

Ben Harper and the Relentless7

TV on the Radio

Andrew Bird

MGMT

The Decemberists

Girl Talk

Bon Iver

of Montreal

Animal Collective

Grizzly Bear

Okkervil River

...and so many others that I just haven't listed.  Regrettably, I probably won't be in attendance at this festival either.

New Bishop Allen Tracks

Here at Animal Noises, we'll be reviewing the new Bishop Allen record, Grrr..., later in the month, but until that point, I'm sure these two tracks (courtesy of Stereogum) will suffice.  I've heard Grrr... already, and I have to say, I'm thoroughly impressed.  Though the band has kept their pop elements intact, they've also managed to get back to a more rock sound than their previous release.  Less corn ball, more straightforward and serious rock music.  What else could you want from these guys?

Grrr... is out March 10th, on Dead Oceans.  Check back here later on this month for a full write-up of it.

Bishop Allen- "Dimmer"

Bishop Allen- "The Ancient Commonsense of Things"