Tom Waits – Bad As Me
Tom Waits may pay the mortgage as a musician, but he clearly has the heart of a junkman. With Waits, you get the sense that nothing ever truly gets thrown away—maybe pushed deeper back or buried beneath but never completely discarded or forgotten. On Bad As Me, Waits’ first collection of entirely new material since 2004’s clanging, scraping Real Gone, the once inebriated lounge act turned beatboxing junkman picks through the scrap metal and tire piles of his nearly 40-year career and shows that a shine can be salvaged from even the rustiest pieces. Read the full review on Consequence of Sound
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
After a short instrumental intro, Mylo kicks off with “Hurts Like Heaven,” a driving homage to LCD Soundsystem and a nice kick in the formula. (Coldplay’s members are expert formula-repeaters.) But from there, it’s a different recipe, with a series of songs that almost beg for a verse from Jigga. “Paradise” is the biggest, most obvious one, with its saccharine—but somehow acceptable—lyrics (“life goes on, it gets so heavy”) and loping breakbeat. If Martin hasn’t lined somebody up to throw down some rhymes on a remix, he’s missing out on some serious crossover potential. “Princess Of China” serves up a major player, though: Rihanna duets with Martin on a massive bit of pop-ready melancholia that should find a home on about six different radio formats. Read the full review at Chicago Sun Times
Bonnie Prince Billy – Wolfroy Goes To Town
Wolfroy Goes to Town is a hushed, hallowed, humble work; with a reverent air that borders on religious, and a congregation of backing singers —including the glorious warble of Chicago songsmith Angel Olsen— employed like choir to his preachin’. This suits a lyrical motif that is filled with references to the divine.
Early in 2011, the Bonnie “Prince” issued a seven-inch, “There Is No God” b/w “God Is Love,” which at the time seemed like a lark; especially given the giddy, drunk-country ramblin’ of the former jam, which found Oldham caroling “that which puts mouth on cock and vagina” with glee. Here, there’s the same lyrical predisposition —God that is, not genitalia— only delivered with far more gravity and grace.
Just as on Willy O’s first-ever album, the 1993 Palace Brothers LP There is No-One What Will Take Care of You, God is present, in some form, in every song; usually by name, often in spirit; a panoply of perceptions coloring an often-stark set of songs, God rendered various shades of loving, cruel, absent, omnipresent, bearded, feminine. Oldham explores notions of faith and religion, pitting belief in a deity against the way humans force their own narratives, their own agendas, onto some imagined man in the sky. “Good God guides us/Bad God leaves us,” he carols on opener “No Match,” and that mixture of sly humor and solemn profundity holds across the whole album.
As the songs roll out mournful and melancholy, Oldham still can shoehorn in the lyrically bizarre (like: “as boys, we fucked each other/as men, we lie and smile”; or: “fat men smiling, bearded men/with blue eyes shining, light within”), but they don’t play like jokes. The effect is sad, somehow; like back in that old Palace era, when a song called “You Have Cum In Your Hair and Your Dick Is Hanging Out” was so beautiful it could make you cry. Read the full review on AllMusic
A lot of us at Pure Pop have been in this music game for a while. When you spend as much time following the news and watching the trends as we do, you develop a sixth sense for what’s coming next. Don’t believe us? Bookmark this page and look at it again in one years’ time. You will be shocked by how accurate these predictions turn our to be. (Note: The following is strictly a piece of comedy. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.)
5. Kanye West Mauled by Bear
During a visit to the San Diego Zoo, the contentious Kanye West will misinterpret a grizzly bear’s scratching of an itch as a personal affront. In retaliation, West will enter the cage and confront said bear, only to be mauled and disfigured. Surviving the incident, West will post a poorly-written and insincerely-self-deprecating post on his blog acknowledging that his hubris has once again left him with egg on his face.
4. Tom Waits Experiences Career Renaissance Due to Tonsillectomy
Gravel-voiced icon Tom Waits will undergo a necessary tonsillectomy this spring. Consequently, Waits’ gruff, growling vocal delivery will be forever changed. His growling tenor will transform into a smooth alto croon. Invigorated and inspired by his new Rick-Astley-esque voice, Waits will release a series of lively big-band arrangements of his most beloved songs. His initially skeptical fan base will embrace Waits 2.0 as will mainstream audiences as never before.
3. Phish Break Up and Get Back Together
During their spring tour, Trey Anastasio will tearfully announce that Phish have once again reached an impasse and decided to go their separate ways. During the summer, each former member of the band will embark on various unsuccessful projects, including six instrumental solo albums by Trey, a collaborative album between Mike Gordon and Living Colour’s drummer, an anthology of limericks by Page Mcconell and a new album from Jon Fishman‘s Pork Tornado. This fall, on Phish’s website, the band will issue a statement saying they’ve realized they are at their happiest and most creative when working together. The subsequent early winter tour will be their most well-attended since the previous reunion tour.
2. Scarlett Johansson Records 2pac Tribute Album
Undaunted by the universal scorn that greeted her album of Tom Waits covers, Scarlett Johansson will continue to pursue her musical ambitions. Setting her sights on martyred hip-hop legend 2pac, Johansson and producer Daniel Lanois will release an album of down-tempo interpretations of 2pac’s songs. The album sells poorly, becoming a a synonym for celebrity excess and pop-culture vapidity. It’s greatest condemnation will come from 2pac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, who says of the album, “It’s the worst thing to happen to my son since he got shot.”
1. Bono Reveals Indifference To Injustice and Suffering
In a candid interview with Playboy, U2′s Bono will confess his various altruistic endeavors are part of a series of publicity stunts that, as the singer will put it, “…have paid off handsomely.” The Irishman will go onto admit that he “couldn’t really care less about other people’s problems. Have you seen my massive house? It’s bigger than most high schools. I’m not going to mope around over some starving people I’ll never meet when I’m living like an Egyptian emperor, am I?” When pressed for anything that does bother him, Bono will admit that, “Sometimes my personal chef will behave a little informally around me. That irks me to no end.”
Winston Churchill called it “The Black Dog”, that lurking black cloud of discontent and despair. We’ve all felt it at one point another. Just as music can compliment our positive experiences, it can also keep us company during our less enjoyable ones. This week, we asked Pure Pop staffers, what do you listen to when you want to end it all?
m. Breiner — If I’m just thinking about the end point, I’ll always listen to the Marshall Jefferson 12″ mix of the Pet Shop Boys‘ Being Boring to pull me back. But when it’s really time to pass the exhaust pipe, Chicago 3-32, the Boss’s Born in the USA, or anything from the Oasis oeuvre will do the trick. Good bye cruel world..
Amy — I can’t say I’ve ever wanted to “end it all”, but when I’m feeling a little down all I want to hear is a deep whiskey- soaked voice full of sadness and sorrow to console me and make me realize that I am not alone. Not that I can’t listen to Tom Waits in any mood… but on those darker days Franks Wild Years really hits the spot. The track Innocent When You Dream is always the turning point of my mood; depressing yet hopeful. The album ends with a deeply beautiful song, Cold Cold Ground, allowing the perfect amount of time to wallow in despair before re-entering my usually happy world.
Tanner – Gosh where to start, I mean at this point in my life i’ve got an album or two for ever shade, gradient and texture of despair. Are we talking, Gothy Romantic despair (Disintegration, Treasure)? Or maybe Nihilistic philosophical despair (I see a Darkness, Silent Shout, anything ever by Current 93)? Drifting, amorphous senses of emptiness? (Mirages, Desiderii Marginis’ Seven Sorrows, Northhaunt’s Horizons) What about actual, real world, “I lost something tangible never to get it back” despair? I guess, if i need to pair it down though, my real place of despair lies mainly in that real world emotional, everyday realm – And for that I go to Bonnie Prince Billy’s “Master and Everyone” – Not the flat out most empty, despairing, brutal album ever, or even of his career, but the world he’s working in on this album is like a cold empty room that was only just recently occupied, warm, and safe. It’s those day to day moments, when the wound is still fresh that the despair is most acutely felt.
Herb — I’m generally a fan of sad music but when I’m completely at the mercy of the demons of discontent, Chris Bell’s I am the Cosmos usually finds its way onto my record player. The album is soaked in yearning, regret and blistering anguish. It’s that much more of a crushing listen when one considers the album in the context of the late Bell’s career; he recorded the album over the better part of a decade while working for his family’s restaurant. He died tragically at the age of twenty-seven. The album wouldn’t be released for another fifteen years. *shudder* Still, the album’s excellence always pulls me back from the void.
Brandon — Although I’m barely self-aware enough to consider ending it all, when I’m feeling blue I repeatedly listen to “Barbarella” by Scott Weiland. Like anyone with a heart, I am deeply moved by Mr. Weiland’s personal and professional life. This taut, stoic number really captures the valleys of this miraculous poet’s experience. “Don’t know just who I am / don’t know about the lamb / I’m the meat of the feast”. Well said, Scott. Well said.
Matt — Asking me what I listen to when I feel like ending it all is sort of like asking a Smurf what it listens to while punching Gargamel’s cat in the balls. That is to say, it don’t happen much. To be honest, I think all that “I’m-so-sad” music is pretty garbage. If you feel like ending it all, you should exercise or get a girlfriend, right? On the other hand, if there was a zombie apocalypse and they were breaking into my fortification and I didn’t want to let them feast on my brains I’d probably play Weird Al’s “Dare to be Stupid” while I took care of myself. Respect.
Welcome to the newly painted fiery pit of Pure Pop! I have some personal recommendations to share… Currently I’ve been on a Tom Waits and Clash kick, but as for new music, The Fleet Foxes are blowing my mind. Check out one of their videos (I am just posting a link for now because I can’t figure out computer language):
Another new release to look out for is The Lines “Flood Bank”. This is a combination of the two LP’s from a late 70′s post-punk band out of London. It is filled with eerie, deep and distant layers of beautiful noise, I can’t get enough of it! Come check it out on the listening station this month!
As far as local music goes, last night I went to the Radiator benefit and unfortunately missed the Fatal Flaws, but I was able to catch the Cave Bees, In Memory of Pluto, and Nose Bleed Island. I must say, all stellar performances! The Cave Bees were rawkin, lots of dancing, lots of fun. In Memory of Pluto is one of my favorite local bands to see (we have their brand new CD “Cutting Open The Fiction” in stock here!). Last night their performance was tight, energetic, and exciting with a couple of thrilling, dark, and dank new tunes! Nose Bleed Island was a grand sight to see as usual. If you are into performance art, this is the local performance for you to see! So come on down and pick up their albums here at Pure Pop!
