Off To Lebowski Fest

I'm hitting the road. I'm off to beautiful Louisville, Kentucky for the fifth annual Lebowski Fest -- a festival celebrating all things Lebowski. It'll be three days of white russians, bowling, and assorted debauchery. What does this mean for I Rock Cleveland? Ehh...I don't know. I imagine there will be a direct corrolation between the number of white russians I drink and the number of updates over the next few days. The more white russians, the less likely I'll be to write anything coherent. I'm leaving you with the Gypsy Kings' rendition of Hotel California which is featured prominently in The Big Lebowski. Gyspsy Kings - Hotel California.mp3

Mobius Band This Saturday Night At The House of Blues

The Mobius Band is a story of three lads from a small town in Massachusettes who move to the big city and make some noise. Their debut disc on Ghostly International attracted the attention of both critics and dudes who link mp3s on a blog. Their music can best be described as electronic rock. Just hold on a second, it's not the sound of electronica that was supposed to take over America in the late nineties. Rather, Mobius Band take well written pop songs and augment them with beeps, sweeps, and creeps. I was witneess to The Mobius Band when the opened for Editors and Stellastarr this past spring. Saturday night, their first headlining tour will make a stop at The House of Blues (Caimbridge Room). Mobius Band - The Loving Sounds of Static (junior boys remix).mp3 Mobius Band - A Hint of Blood.mp3 Mobius Band Tour Dates: Wed. Sep. 27 Boston, MA @ Great Scott Thu. Sep. 28 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge Fri. Sep. 29 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar Sat. Sep. 30 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues (Caimbridge Room) Mon. Oct. 02 Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot Tue. Oct. 03 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge Wed. Oct. 04 Salt Lake City, UT @ Velour Fri. Oct. 06 Seattle, WA @ Neumos + Sat. Oct. 07 Portland, OR @ Lewis & Clark + Mon. Oct. 09 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour + Tue. Oct. 10 San Diego, CA @ Casbah + Wed. Oct. 11 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour + Thu. Oct. 12 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall + Fri. Oct. 13 Eugene, OR @ Wow Hall + Sat. Oct. 14 Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan + Sun. Oct. 15 Missoula, MT @ The Loft Wed. Oct. 18 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle Thu. Oct. 19 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry Sat. Oct. 21 St. Louis, MO @ Creepy Crawl Sun. Oct. 22 Lansing, MI @ Temple Club Mon. Oct. 23 Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection Tue. Oct. 24 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick Wed. Oct. 25 Philadelphia, PA @ Khyber Wed. Nov. 01 New York, NY @ CMJ+ with The National + Opening for The National Baby Dayliner supports all dates except 9/28, 10/10, and 11/1. Mobius Band Mobius Band on Myspace

Lemonheads (CD Review)

During the past twenty years, Evan Dando of the Lemonheads has gone through many bassists, many drummers, and many drugs. After 1992's It's A Shame About Ray, and it's follow up, Come On Feel The Lemonheads, Evan Dando found himself the poster boy of alternative rock. Success didn't seem to be to Evan Dando's liking, and one Lemonheads album later, he descended into obscurity for the latter half of the nineties and the first part of this decade. Evan Dando's comeback started with 2003's solo outing, Baby I'm Bored, admittedly a hit and miss affair, and continues now with his latest release, the self titled disc on Vagrant records, and his first recording as the Lemonheads in nearly 10 years. As I alluded to earlier, the Lemonheads have rarely been a stable band. Even from their earliest days on Taang records, The Lemonheads were basically, Evan Dando and a rotating cast of contributing musicians. This newest incarnation of The Lemonheads features Karl Alvarez and Bill Stephenson of The Descendents handling the rhythm section. By adding two veterans of the Southern California punk scene, Evan Dando and The Lemonheads have added a certain amount of muscle to their tunes. The Lemonheads waste no time showing that the newest model comes equipted with a new found rockin attitude. After a brief piano introduction, "Black Gown" explodes in a melee of feedback soaked guitar and fiecely pounded drums. It's as if Evan Dando and compary are ignoring the fact that the band's major label days ever existed. "Become The Enemy" is the type of song that could have easily worked it's way into his previous solo outing had it been arranged as a sparse guitar ballad. Instead, the amps are kicked up a notch or two and Evan Dando's still silk-smooth voice is accompanied by scattered guitar noise and Karl Alvarez's skittish bass. "Pittsburgh" and "No Backbone" utilize a similar formula. Evan Dando providing his uncanny senese of melody, while the boys in the band kick in with a loud and loose accompaniment. As if "No Backbone" needed even more of a kick, J Mascis lends a hand with some his trademark squeaks and squalors. Elsewhere, Evan and his bandmates do a fine job injecting a jolt of electricity into "Poughkeepsie," transforming a country fried strummer into a rock and roll stomper. As is the case with most of The Lemonheads albums since It's A Shame About Ray, there are a couple missteps. "Baby's Home" would be a fine whiskey ballad about your cheeting woman and taking revenge against her lover, if it was sung by someone not named Evan Dando. It may be just me, but I have a hard time taking seriously the threats he levies to kick someone's ass and pull the trigger on a shotgun. Then, the disc closer, "December" has a rather extended psychedelic freak out before the last chorus. I can't decide whether I like the freak out or not. I'm leaning toward not. Sure, it feels great when that last chorus finally does come around, I'm simply not digging the time it takes to get there. There's something comforting about having a new album by The Lemonheads. After all, this is a band that soundtracked the latter half of my high school years as well as my college years. While I'm not ready to declare that this self titled disc is a return to top form, it is a return to good form, and in all likelihood you'll find plenty to love. Lemonheads by The Lemonheads -- 7 out of 10 on The Rockometer Lemonheads - No Backbone.mp3 The Lemonheads

Get An Early Start To Your Rocktober With Release Parties For Houseguest and Boatzz

Friday night, at the Lime Spider in Akron, Houseguest will be having their official cd release party for their so fantastic hit cd, High Strangeness. Joining Houseguest on the bill will be Audio Eagle labelmates Beaten Awake, and Cleveland's This Is Exploding. Saturday night, Boatzz will be having a cd release party at The Grog Shop for their latest, the Uzi ep. The Stereo Workers Union and Nicholas Megalis will be opening. This will also be serving as the kickoff party for Boatzz's European tour of The Netherlands this October. Tour dates can be found at www.boatzz.com I've come across some messages of late concerning the availability of Houseguest's High Strangeness as well as Beaten Awake's Let's Get Simplified. Digital copies are available at both eMusic and iTunes. If you like physical cds, try either Square Records in Akron or Music Saves in Cleveland. Finally, if none of these are options for you, both of these discs can be ordered directly from Fat Possum. Do what you need to do. Both of these discs should be in your music library.

120 Days - Get Away

A few weeks back, I dropped the first single from Norway's 120 Days -- the epic nine minute krautrock space explosion "Come Out (Come Down, Fade Out, Be Gone)," and I've got news for you, it only gets better from there. "Get Away" is one for those of you whose attention spans can't handle 9 minutes of rock, yet, it's just as powerful. There's no f*cking around on "Get Away." The bassline is chugging, the synths are swirling, and the guitars are screaming. If "Come Out" was rock music for space exploration, then "Get Away" is for blasting off and blowing your speakers away. 12o Days - Get Away.mp3 The debut, self titled disc, is due to drop October 10th on Vice. 120 Days 120 Days on Myspace Vice Records

My Morning Jacket and Finding a Cure For Doublediscaphobia

Doublediscaphobia is a serious psychological condition that affects millions of music lovers. It is characterized by an intense and uncontrollable fear of double albums. People who suffer from doublediscaphobia may have a fear of double studio albums, double live albums, or both double studio and double live albums. Doublediscaphobia often manifests itself in the form a severe anxiety attack. That man you saw hiding in Home Appliances at your local Best Buy? He suffers from doublediscaphobia. Your girlfriend, who won't take a step in your parent's den? She sufffers from doublediscaphobia. Doublediscaphobia is more prevalent in younger lsteners than in music fans who came of age in the Seventies. Many prominent psychologists trace the roots of doublediscaphobia back to Peter Frampton and his double live album Frampton Comes Alive. Being exposed to your old man's copy of Frampton Comes Alive at a young age is one of the leading causes of doublediscaphobia in patients in the 18-35 age range. There is no cure for doublediscaphobia. However, some recent research has led some psychologists to believe that the symptoms and severity of doublediscaphobia can be lessened if the listener is exposed to a double disc that does not feature vocoders, five minute drum solos, and shirtless men from the seventies on the album cover. Hi. My name is Bill from I Rock Cleveland and I live with doublediscaphobia. Doublediscaphobia had prevented me from listening to double live albums for many years. However, During the past few years, I've started to learn how to deal with my fear of double albums, and today I can proudly say that I have five double live albums in my music library: Cheap Trick - Live at The Budokhan, Sloan - 4 Nights At The Palais Royale, Ben Harper - Live From Mars, Wilco - Kicking Television: Live in Chicago, and now My Morning Jacket - Okonokos. Now, why should still fear a double album by My Morning Jacket? They are widely considered one of the best live bands touring today and they play good old American roots style rock and roll. On the surface, being afraid of Okonokos would seem rather irrational. I've throroughly enjoyed listening to their last two studio efforts: Z and It Still Moves, and Okonokos is filled with offerings from these albums. Additionally, there's a few tracks from My Morning Jacket's back catalog, and maybe listening to Okonokos will inspire me to start exploring some of their earlier recordings. Still, there's my doublediscaphobia. I may be able to cope with my fears, but I have not completely conquered them, and even though this is My Morning Jacket, I still find myself listening with a certain amount of trepidation. One line sung through a vocoder and I may not be able to listen to another double live album ever again. Disc 1 starts off with the first three songs from Z: "Wordless Chorus," It Beats 4 U," and "Gideon," all played rather close to the album version, before kicking it into "One Big Holiday." Jim James is screaming, the geetars are wailing, and if I was there that night, I would have surely rockfisted this song. After a bit of some easier rockin fare, My Morning Jacket throw down an absolutely raucous take on "What a Wonderful Man." The first half of the set ends with "Off The Record," personally my favorite track from Z, a rather smooth rendition of "Golden," and the country rock stomper, "Lay Low." On disc 2, highlights include "Dancefloors" and the set closer "Mahghetta." Both of these songs first appeared on It Still Moves. On Okonokos, the heavy reverb of the original recordings is traded in for a cleaner burning formula, one that transforms these songs into flat out rockers. Sure, there's also three tracks that clock in at over nine minutes. In past years this would make be break out in a nervous sweat. Luckily, with my doublediscaphobia under reasonable control, I can actually enjoy the extended versions of "Donate" and "Steam." Okonokos may not be the ultimate cure for your doublediscaphobia, but more than likely it will help in alleviating some of your fears. It's a double live album, true. It's also a double live album by a great American band at the top of their game. Okonokos by My Morning Jacket rocks to the tune of 7 1/2 out of 10 on The Rockometer. My Morning Jacket

The Whigs

The Whigs craft alternative guitar rock that serves their storied home town of Athens, Georgia, quite well. Originally self recorded and self released on a shoe string budget, their debut disc, Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip has recently been re-released on ATO Records. So, just how tight were those proverbial shoe strings? Legend has it, the boys bought the gear needed to record the album on eBay and had to sell it all back once they were done. After all, Ramen Noodles don't grow on trees. "Technology" sounds like the type of song that dominated alternative rock radio ten years ago. Very smooth and easy going down, with just enough bite to it to keep things interesting. It's the type of song like "Hey Jealousy" by The Gin Blossoms, that was so good that you would inevitably get sick of it. Luckily, in today's age of iPods and playlists, you'll hardly run the risk of being overexposed to "Technology." The Whigs - Technology.mp3 "Don't Talk Anymore" finds The Whigs fully embracing their Southern Roots with a mid tempo guitar rocker with just the right amount of twang. The Whigs - Don't Talk Anymore.mp3 The Whigs will be headlining these United States through the fall. Check out the myspace link for tour dates. The Whigs The Whigs on Myspace

A Little of This and A Little of That

This past Saturday night I checked out Be Your Own Pet, The Black Lips, and Plasma For Guns at The Beachland Ballroom. Plasma For Guns put on one of their best shows, The Black Lips were more than a treat, they were two or three treats, and Be Your Own Pet played like a bunch of kids running around the stage. The Cleveland Browns are still breaking my heart and I don't want to talk about it. There's a chance I might watch MTV tonight. They're premiering the new video by Tenacious D, "Pick of Destiny" all day today. Then again, I may just wait for it to pop up on Youtube. I'm not so much of a fan of MTV these days. I reheated leftover salmon in the microwave. I liked it a lot better yesterday. Finally, The Cursive, Thermals, and Ladyfinger show originally scheduled for the House of Blues this Wednesday night has been moved to the Grog Shop.

I Rock Cleveland's Got Soul

I'm going to make this quick today and let the music do the talking. I have two bands that I'm going to share with you who have two very different takes on rock and soul. First up is Earl Grayhound featuring guitarist/vocalist Matt Whyte, bassist/vocalist Kamara Dawson, and drummer Ricc Sherridan. On this tune here, "S.O.S," their soul includes lots of Led Zeppelin and a large dose of T.Rex. Needless to say, I dig the gargantuan guitar riffs. Earl Greyhound - S.O.S.mp3 Earl Greyhound will have a new album out on Some Records next month. It's one that I'll definitely be looking forward to rocking. Earl Greyhound on Some Records Earl Greyhound Honeycut is a new project featuring keyboardist/arranger RV Salters, singer Bart Davenport, and durm programmer Tony Sevener. "Shadows" has a more modern take on rockin soul. They take a basic Motown melody and infuse it with electronic beats and devilish synths. Honeycut - Shadows.mp3 Honeycut on Quannum Records Honeycut on Myspace

Easy Rockin Sunday Featuring Bright Eyes and Ferraby Lionheart

On October 24th Saddle Creek will be releasing Noise Floor, a collection of rarities and b-sides from Bright Eyes recorded between 1998 and 2005. "Amy In A White Coat" first appeared on the There Is No Beginning ep released in 2002. "I Will Be Grateful For This Day" was originally released through the Sub Pop singles club in 2001. I admit, I'm a bit biased to Bright Eyes. If he recorded a cover version of "Afternoon Delight" it would shoot straight to the top of my singles chart. Bright Eyes - Amy In A White Coat.mp3 Bright Eyes - I Will Be Grateful For This Day.mp3 Saddle Creek I was totally unaware of Ferraby Lionheart until this past week when his name was dropped on Spin.com. Initially, I was intrigued just by his cool name. Sometimes that's all it takes to grab my attention. Luckily, for you and me, his music is just as cool as his moniker. Start off with "The Ballad of Gus and Sam" and it's sun-soaked pop goodness. It just happens to be about a conversation with a killer on a Ouija Board. Don't let that dissuede you. You'll be too busy with the smooth vocals and unmistakable melody to notice its dark side. Then, try out "Tickets to Crickets" and snap your fingers along with this piano ballad. You'll be hooked. Ferraby Lionheart - The Ballad of Gus and Sam.mp3 Ferraby Lionheart - Tickets to Crickets.mp3 Ferraby Lionheart's self-recorded, self-titled, and self-released ep is out now. Someone should seriously sign this dude to a record deal. Unless, of course, you're one of theose dudes who signs people to record deals and screws over artists. Then, don't sign this dude. Ferraby Lionheart

Bettie Serveert And A Trip In The Wayback Machine

A little bit of nostalgia is inevitable when listening the new single by the Dutch indie rock band, Bettie Serveert. We'll take our trip in the Wayback Machine in a little bit, but first I want to talk about Bettie Serveert in the present tense. Bare Stripped Naked, the latest release from Bettie Serveert was released September 12th on Minty Fresh Records. This is not a return to form for Bettie Serveert, rather it should serve as an affirmation of their talent. The lead single, "Hell Is Other People" may not as loud as their as the band's work, but the core of this band is still strong with Peter Visser's slithering guitar work and Carol van Dyk's captivating voice. Bettie Serveert - Hell Is Other People.mp3 Now, it's time for our trip in the Wayback Machine. We're going back to the fall of 1993 and my freshman year at Bowling Green State University and my dorm room at the old Prout Hall. When the weather was just right, and I pointed my boombox antenna in the right direction, I could pick up 89X out of Windsor, Ontario. One of the bands I first heard that fall was Bettie Serveert. 89X featured three singles off of Bettie Serveert's 1992 Matador release Palomine in their playlist: "Kid's Allright","Palomine", and "Tom Boy." I was drawn in by Carol Van Dyk's powerful voice and her bands lo-fi, loud, fuzzy, and loose accompaniment. Quite Amazingly, this cd survived my college years and those days where I would have to trade in cd's Friday afternoon for beer money Friday night. Back to the present. Recently, when digging through the archives at I Rock Cleveland World Headquarters, I came across Palomine, and put in in the I Rock Cleveland Sound System for a few spins. I have to say, I'm still in love with this cd nearly 15 years later. Bettie Serveert - Palomine.mp3 Bettie Serveert - Tom Boy.mp3 Bettie Serveert Bettie Serveert US Tour Dates Bettie Serveert on Myspace photo courtesy of Nick Helderman

High Strangeness by Houseguest (CD Review)

I've caught a lot of things in the past year: a couple colds, an elbow in the ribcage, a run of bad luck with two flat tires in two weeks, my hands in the cookie jar, grief from my mums for not returning all of her phone calls in a timely manner, but none of these things are as catchy as this new cd, High Strangeness, by Houseguest. So, how did a modest band of misfits from Akron, OH, manage to make the catchiest guitar pop record my ears have heard in years? Well, it starts with the singing of Ted Mallison, whose crooning make him sound somewhere between Bob Mould and Morrissey. Add in the rhythm section of bassist Gabe Schray and drummer Steve Clements, who adeptly steer the band through endless twists and tunrs. Finally it's topped off by the double guitar acrobatics of Dave Rich and David Whited, and you have Houseguest's recipe for perfectly crafted pop. There are so many strong tunes on this disc. "Fashionable Living Room" features a lament over lost love told through the memories of living room knick-knackery sung over a bouncy beat and absurdly sunny guitars. "Dive Deep" finds Houseguest doing a fun little rave-up in the style of Elvis Costello and the attractions. "Heliport Impressions" may be the only song I've ever heard about saying goodbye at a Heliport. Now, Houseguest has me thinking, that perhaps there should be more songs about heliports. While all of those songs emphasize what Houseguest do best -- quirky tempos, insanely catchy hooks, and wit aplenty, the band take things to a whole differnet realm in the middle third of the disc. "King of Crystal Skies" is smoother, shinier, and more delicate than most of Houseguest's fare. The subdued instrumentation in the opening leaves plenty of room for Ted's vocals. The middle third of the song revs up the tempo, and the final movement starts as an echo to the opening, moves into a little new wave medley and abruptly ends. It's part of the genius of this band. They stop when you expect them to go. They zig when you expect a zag. They get down when you expect them to get on up. Next, "Galapaghost Island" jumps and hollers with a rhythm during the verses that is (gasp) almost ska-like, but you can call this song a load of fun, but you probably shouldn't can't call it ska. It's filled with so many hooks and tempo changes that while you may not be able to keep up with them, you'll have a blast giving it a try. Lastly, "Muted Mesa" is just one more shining example of perfect guitar pop. I've said plenty on this one before, but it's worth nothing again, it simply begs the use of a repeat button. It's that good. "Muted Mesa" starts as a piece of glimmering guitar pop, goes through a false ending, and absolutely soars on the grit of Dave and Dave, the guitarists, and the presence and range of Ted's vocals. Houseguest - Muted Mesa.mp3 Houseguest - King of Crystal Skies.mp3 High Strangeness by Houseguest is that good. It's an 8 out of 10 on the Rockometer.

Quick Riffs: Oneida, Lemonheads, Art Brut, The D Theme Song

Oneida appeared on NPR's Morning Edition this past week. Lemonheads Full Album Stream is playing now on Vh1.com. I'll have some thoughts on this one next week. Or as a douchebag critic of mine likes to say, I'll write a snippet and call it a review. Art Brut formed a band. And they did what other bands did after they formed a band. They made a video. Check out the new video for "Formed a Band." Windows, Real, Quicktime Tenacious D - The Pick of Destiny (Windows Stream). It's my early pick for song, album, and movie of the year.

North Valley Subconscious Orchestra

NVSO is Medicine’s Brad Laner and San Francisco's Christopher Willits chugging through electronic drone the way it should be done. Slated as Ghostly’s first digital-only full-length, The Right Kind of Nothing is much more detonative than either collaborator’s solo work, showcasing layer upon layer of distorted melancholia. It would be to our great surprise if the editorial world doesn’t go fucking nuts over this well-produced glimpse into the sonic future. [XLR8R] Is that my cue? I think it's my cue. Woo! Yeah! All Right! F*ckin Rock and Roll Baby! Did I over do it? I was supposed to go F*ckin Nuts right when you finished that sentence that said "editorial world going f*cking nuts". I think this would work better with video, but I'm trusting you, my reader, to imagine me going f*cking nuts. Seiously, this is some really good and really heavy sh*t. If you enjoyed those tunes I dropped the other day from The Big Sleep, then this is going to be just the thing for your rockin enjoyment. North Valley Subconscious Orchestra - Shimokitazawa Face.mp3 NVSO on Ghostly International

The Grog Shop Turns 14

Friday night, the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights will be celebrating 14 years of fantastic rock and roll with a free show featuring Coffinberry, Tall Pines, The Very Knees, Xela 3io, and Series . During the past 14 years I have seen many incredible performances at The Grog Shop including, but not limited to, Sloan, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Mission of Burma, The Futureheads, Evan Dando, and The Promise Ring. Perhaps my fondest moment at The Grog Shop was after a show by Canadian power popsters, Sloan, at the Grog Shop's old home (down the road a bit on Coventry). I approached singer/guitarist Jay Ferguson for an autograph, but didn't have anything for him to sign, I found a dollar bill in my pocket. He gladly signed my one dollar bill, but only after he wrote the word, "LOONY" in big letters on the front. This is still my most cherished piece of concert memorabilia. For 14 years Kathy Simkoff and The Grog Shop staff have provided us with one of the best venues for live music in Cleveland. It's become more than a bar to me. It's almost like a second home. Here's to 14 more years. Finally, if you have a favorite Grog Shop moment, don't hold back, share it with the rest of us.

Bobby Bare Jr's Young Criminals Starvation League

I'm backed up and it's a problem that the mighty fiber can't solve. All the fruits and grains in the world won't help me get through the back log of fine tunes I have sitting around I Rock Cleveland World Headquarters. The only thing I can do to ease this matter is to keep on blogging. Bobby Bare Jr's latest cd, The Longest Meow, was recorded with the help of a merry band of ruffians and rockers, The Young Criminals Starvation League. The entire recording was done in one mammoth eleven hour recording session with such starving criminals better known as guitarist Carl Broemel and drummer Patrick Hallahan (both of My Morning Jacket), and bassist Mike Grimes. Contributions were made by guest starving criminals Carey Kotsionis, Doni Schroader (...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead), Corey Younts, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Deanna Varagona (Lambchop), Ben Martin (Clem Snide) and producer Brad Jones. The results of this recording session included many empty bottles of Coors Light(as evidenced by the photo above) as well as free flowing rockers uninhibited by the excesses of modern rock and roll. "The Heart Bionic" is all southern boogie, big riffs, and foot stomping, good times rock and roll. Bobby Bare Jr - The Heart Bionic.mp3 Meanwhile, "Stop Crying" is simply one of the most gripping whiskey ballads I've heard in ages. Oh, and it just so happens, that just when you're about to join Bobby Bare Jr at the bottom of that bottle, there's some prime grade A riffage waiting for you Bobby Bare Jr - Stop Crying.mp3 (09.26.06 Please note: the id tag on this tune is incorrect. I had originally posted this song as Bionic Beginning.) Bloodshot Records Bobby Bare Jr

Chavez

Chances are when someone (like me, perhaps) tells you that Indie Rock is too safe today, they're probably thinking back to 95 and bands like NYC's Chavez and their intensely sonic dual guitar attack. Chavez released two critically adored, publically ignored albums in the mid 90's -- 1995's Gone Glimmering, and 1996's Ride The Fader. This October, Matador Records is doing us all a favor by remastering these albums and repackaging them, along with non-album b-sides, into a nice shiny and new two disc set, Better Days Will Haunt You, due out on October 10th. "The Guard Attacks" and "Unreal Is Here" were originally songs 2 & 3 on that most fantastic piece of work, Ride The Fader. The first movement, "The Guard Attacks" features the trademark attack of dualing guitarists Clay Tarver and Matt Sweeney. You would swear that neither guitarist hears, or let alone pays attention to the other, but somehow, songs like "The Guard Attacks" work, and they work really f*cking well. The second movement, "Unreal Is Here" is the quieter Chavez, taking on the guise of slacker balladeers. Chavez - The Guard Attacks/Unreal Is Here.mp3 "You Faded" is yet another slab of that famous Chavez sound -- thick, loud, and pleasing to the ears of I Rock cleveland. This one was originally released as part of the previously unavailable Pentagram Ring E.P. Chavez - You Faded.mp3 Oh, we may never be able to go back to the days when Indie Rockers actually Rocked, but at least with Chavez a boy can dream his little dreams. "Unreal Is Here" Musical Cinema: Chavez on Matador Records

The Big Sleep

It's taken me all of two days to fall in love with Brooklyn's The Big Sleep. Monday, they were Spin.com's band of the day, Tuesday, they received a mixed review from the Fork. I had read enough. It was time to listen with my own ears. The Big Sleep, Danny Barria on guitar, Sonya Balchandani on bass, and Gabe Rhodes on drums, are at their best when they pummel your ears with waves of dense feedback drenched tones. "Murder" F'n Rocks. Plain and simple. Danny and Sonya create an amount of sound that is simply absurd for two people. Gabe bangs those drums as hard as he can in a vain attempt to get heard over the drone. The song is completed by these little keyboard sounds, like the ones your car makes when you forget to put on your seatbelt, and the barely audible hush of Sonya's voice. This kills. And I mean that in the kindest way possible. The Big Sleep - Murder.mp3 "You Can't Touch The Untouchable" takes a slighly different approach to the psychedelic slaughterhouseof sound. The bass is a little funkier, there's a little more ambient sound off in the background fightinga against that almighty drone, and there's even a couple well placed breakdowns should your ears need a break from the aural pummeling. The Big Sleep - You Can't Touch The Untouchable.mp3 The Big Sleep French Kiss Records

Let's Get Simplified by Beaten Awake (CD Review)

Beaten Awake never intended to make it this far. They started out as long time friends working at the same bar in Kent, OH, The Zephyr. Joel McAdams, Ryan Brannon, Jon Finley, and Allen Karpinski were all veterans of the local rock scene. Jam sessions at drummer Ryan Brannon's apartment led to spontaneous gigs at The Zephyr Pub, a record deal with Audio Eagle, and an opening spot on The Black Keys west coast tour. Musically, Beaten Awake features two distinct vocalists and songwriters. The songs of Joel McAdams evoke the slacker rock of Stephen Malkmus or Lou Barlow, while Jon Finley sings his country fried rock songs as if he was raised on whiskey and winstons. If the boys of Beaten Awake weren't such good friends, I'd say the two songwriters, McAdams and Finley, were waging a competition for your attention on Let's Get Simplified. The disc opens with Finley's "Browns Town," a back porch strummer that quietly creeks and strains along with its muted guitar lines and delicate drumming. Next is McAdams with "It's A Bubble Bath of Sharks," a charmingly played song of lost love, accompanied by a menagerie of guitars and the bass guitar seemingly doing their own thing and sticking together at the same time. When Finley ups the ante with the short psychedelic blow out of "Broken Fang" and follows it up with the sweet little stomper, "Goin Nowhere," McAdams is quick to answer with his best Barlow on the sad ballad "All Up All Close" and the quick, quirky, and delightful "Endless Boo." Beaten Awake may not have anticipated the attention they're receiving when they started those first jam sessions, but by being accomplished musicians and masterful songwriters, they are making themselves increasingly difficult to ignore. This is the honest so sh*t truth -- I've gone through plenty of cds in the past few weeks, most of which came with a lot more hype than this one, but Let's Get Simplified by Beaten Awake is the one I always want playing on my stereo. Beaten Awake - It's a Bubble Bath of Sharks!!!.mp3 Beaten Awake have earned themselves an 8 on the Rockometer. Fat Possum Beaten Awake

I Rock Cleveland's Guide to Rock Superlatives

In the course of reading IRockCleveland.com you will come across many superlatives describing how a certain band, single, or album rocks. For example, Ladyhawk rocks, Mission of Burma rocks so f'n hard, or Slilversun Pickups rocks my socks off. And I'm sure you've wondered, "Is it better to rock so f*ckin hard, or to rock someone's socks off?" Wonder no more. Here is your handy guide to rock superlatives. Rocks - This is the basic superlative. If something rocks, it has enough of the key ingredients of bass, guitars, drums, riffs, hooks, and melody to illicit a reaction from the listener. F'N Rocks - Something that does more than rock. It achieves the basic elements of rockness and excels in one or more of the previous qualities. Rocks Hard - Similar in stature to F'N Rocks. These two phrases can be interchangeable. By using all caps for ROCKS you can emphasize the rock. Similarly, by using all caps for HARD you can emphasize the hardness. Rocks So F'N Hard - Better than rocks, rocks hard, and f'n rocks. Rocks So F'N hard is one the highest compliments you can give to something that rocks. Writing this phrase in all caps should only be done in the rarest of circumstances. If you use the phrase ROCKS SO F'N HARD too often, you will run the risk of trivializing its power. Rocks My Socks Off - Taken literally, this expression means that if you were wearing socks that there is a high degree of likelihood that you will be missing your socks as a result of hearing a piece of rock music. Rocks My Lame A** - Rocks in such a manner that you (the listener) feel unworthy at being a part of such a display of rock. This phrase was popularized by a band by the name of Hagfish in the nineties. I cannot tell you whether Hagfish would or would not rock your lame ass. I have since co-opted this phrase as my own. Rocks My Rock and Roll Soul - This expression is used when something rocks, but you do not understand why it rocks. The answer is simple. The rock bypassed your brain and connected directly with your rock and roll soul. Rocks With All Due Hardness - Is not a mere slogan, it's a way of life. Every day and every moment is dedicated to rock. It's not about the size of your amp or the speed of your metal. It's about being true to yourself and true to your rock. If you think the Black Angels are the epitome of modern day rock, then rock it, and rock it with all due hardness. Similarly, if you're stuck in the seventies and consider Zeppelin or Sabbath the epitome of rock, by all means rock it, and rock it the best you can.

Return To Cookie Mountain by TV On The Radio (CD Review)

I'm sure glad I didn't give myself a deadline on reviewing The Return To Cookie Mountain by TV On The Radio. I didn't ask for an advance copy. I didn't download a leaked copy. I waited until last week's official release date for my first listen. Now, it's one week later. I've listened to this cd a number of times and I still don't know exactly what to make out of it. The talent and the artistic desire of TV On The Radio is unmistakable. No one playing the game today is able to combine such disparate influences like punk, art rock, gospel, dance, and doo-wop into one record. The power of "Wolf Like Me" is unmistakable. That combination low-end fuzz and hard charging guitars makes this one of the most necessary and dangerous rockers of 2006. However, there's also times when I listen to Cookie Mountain and I get the impression that TV On The Radio rely too heavily on style and end up forsaking actual substance. I'm hard pressed to come up with another song that grabs me as strongly as "Wolf Like Me." Sure I dig "Blues From Down Here" fair enough with its marauding bass line, and I can get lost in the slow moving ambient ballad, "Tonight", but songs like "Let The Devil In" and "I Was A Lover" rely so heavily on ideas, that you 'd be hard pressed to find melody (or a song). Sure, it doesn't help when two months before you even play the to a cd you're fully aware that it's been dubbed the disc of 06. I would love to put TV on The Radio on, sink down into my sofa, and have a nice enjoyable listen. Can't do it. I'm too busy trying to figure out if TV On The Radio is "it." I had a similar problem with Arctic Monkeys. How could their debut possibly live up to the "Top Five British Albums of All Time" headlines? Who knows? Months from now I can be lounging in this very same sofa and listen to TV on The Radio and I'll finally get it. For now, the message is clear. High expectations are a b*tch, my friends. From those lofty perches, the only place to go is down. TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain -- 7 1/2 out of 10 on the Rockometer.

Breaking News

The Cleveland Browns are a sucky football team.

The Horrors

This is The Horrors and this is f*cking rock and roll. These five lads from Southend in England have only released two 7" singles, yet have already graced the cover of NME. The Horrors have created this volatile mix of garage rock, surf guitars, and punk rock swagger where each and every song is set to kill. People have name dropped such bands like The Stooges, The Cramps, or The Strokes. People also tend to name drop stuff like blood, zombies, murder, and gore. That's what you get when you're a punk band named The Horrors. "Death at Ther Chapel" hits me straight in my rock and roll heart -- two minutes of shreiks, howls, heavy riffs, and creepy organs all culminating in a car crash. The Horrors - Death At The Chapel.mp3 Then, there's this video for "Sheena Is a Parasite." It was directed by Chris Cunningham and stars Samantha Morton. It gives me the f*cking willies each time I watch it. The Horrors have a handful of dates in New York and a few places not named New York this fall. October 28 - New York, NY - Don Hills (Misshapes) October 29 - Hartford, CT - Sweet Jane November 2 - New York, NY - The Annex (Stolen Transmission party) November 3 - Brooklyn, NY - November 4 - Boston, MA - Great Scott November 5 - Washington, DC - Rock N Roll Hotel November 7 - Los Angeles, CA - Safari Sam's Finally, The Horrors debut ep will be out on Stolen Transmission in the states on October 24th. Trust me. You'll want to be hearing more of this band. The Horrors of Myspace Stolen Transmission

Easy Rockin Sunday

I'm starting off my Easy Rockin Sunday with this sparse and hauntignly beautiful song by Isobel Campbell, "O Love Is Teasin." Isobel Campbell - O Love Is Teasin.mp3 Roger O'Donnell, keyboardist for such famed British acts The Psychedelic Furs and The Cure, is readying the release of his first solo album, "The Truth in Me." Be on the lookout for remixes from Jimmy Tamborello of The Postal Service/Dntel/Figurine, Kieran Hebden of FourTet, The Notwist/Console, and Jimmy LaValle of The Album Leaf in the near future. In the meantime, treat your ears to this fine instrumental piece entitled, "Not Without You." Roger O'Donnel - Not Without You.mp3 Emily Haines is best known for fronting the Canadian band Metric. Her solo album, Emily Haines and The Soft Skeleton, Knives Don't Have Your Back, is out now in Canada, and will be available in the states on September 26th. Here's the first single, a sweet little tune called "The Lottery." Emily Haines - The Lottery.mp3 Canada (the band) has absolutely nothing to do with loonies, twonies, Molson, Polar Bears, or gigantic sheets of ice. Hell, they don't even say words like "oot" and "aboot." This seven piece indie collective lives close to Canada, hailing from Ann Arbor, MI, and this track, "Beige Stationwagon," comes from their most recent release, This Cursed House. Canada - Beige Stationwagon.mp3 Last in the mix, is Goldenboy with "End of Forever." Goldenboy is a Califronia duo consisting of drummer Bryan Bos and frontman Shon Sullivan, the latter of which has played with some damn fine artists, like Elliott Smith, Johnny Marr, Ed Harcourt, Matt Sharp, Neil Finn, and Spain. Their latest release, Underneath The Radio, will be out on October 3rd. Goldenboy - End of Forever.mp3

The Rock Block

The rock block. A Friday tradition that I'm not so good at keeping. I have no idea what this song by The Prototypes means. Seriously, my French is limited to fromage, "Ca Plane Por Moi," and Jean Luc Picard. This French tune comes off of their self titled American debut. It sounds somewhere between garage rock and big beat and has a big, fuzzy, heavy riff that I so adore. The Prototypes - Je Ne Te Connais Pas.mp3 "God Is Going To Get Sick Of Me" by the Boston band, Aberdeen City, comes off of their 2005 release, The Freezing Atlantic. Nothing ground breaking here, and I like that. It's some pretty catchy electronic alternative rock. I like that, too. If you decide you like the Aberdeen City, they'll be in Cleveland along with Electric Six on Novermber 3rd. Aberdeen City - God Is Going To Get Sick of Me.mp3 This remix of "Writing on the Wall" comes off of Cities' remix album, Variations, due out October 3rd on Yeproc. The preorder comes with an instant download of a Ladytron remix. Not too shabby. Cities - Writing on the Wall (ISAN Remix).mp3 I realize this track flew over the internet a couple days ago, and for good reason. You've got one buzz band (Cassettes Won't Listen) remixing another (Asobi Seksu). On the Strawberries remix, gone are the walls of guitar sound, in their place are keys and some mad funky synths. Asobi Seksu - Strawberries (Cassettes Won't Listen Remix).mp3 Finally, I'm closing out this rock block with a sugary sweet piece of guitar pop from Scanners and their single "Low Life." Scanners - Low Life.mp3 Rock It.