Heraldnet.com
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 5:19 am
LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
RECENT POSTS:
Weekend reading: Metallica, Beck, AC/DC  September 5

Videos: Metallica, Hot Chip, Wilco  September 4

Concert presales: Metallica, Scars on Broadway, Conor Oberst  September 3

Weekend reading: The Beatles, Death Cab, Randy Newman  August 29

Videos: Kanye, Kings of Leon and the Walkmen  August 28

Archives:
LINKS:

Blogs
Hype Machine
Idolator
Sasha Frere-Jones of the New Yorker
Stereogum.com

Local shows
Comcast Arena at Everett Events Center
Pollstar
Ticketmaster

News
Los Angeles Times
New York Times
NME (British)
Pitchfork
Rolling Stone
RELATED ARTICLES:
Liner notes: "The Quilt," "The Stand Ins," "Alphabutt"  September 8
Spotting pop music trends can pay off  September 7
Fall arts preview: Seattle stages dripping with entertainment  September 5
Huey Lewis & The News  September 5
Everett Symphony concertmaster Fred Chu offers solo performance   September 5
This week: Do the Puyallup for top acts  September 5
music talk  September 5
music calendar  September 5
topspot  September 5
Museum buys original Rolling Stones' lips artwork  September 3
 

ADVERTISEMENT

Pop Secrets 
Andy Rathbun   E-mail him | Subscribe to this blog
Andy Rathbun, the Herald's weekly music columnist, blogs about national music news and local acts.
 

Weekend reading: Metallica, Beck, AC/DC

Posted at 4:16 pm

AC/DC is releasing a new album — score! — and it’s supposed to be more rock 'n' roll than their recent albums — sweet! — so the group's releasing it directly through Wal-Mart.

Aweso — Umm. Wait, huh?

Well, OK. I mean, that’s cool. That’s the way the Eagles released its last album, so we all know it’s a good business decision, which is, uh, rock 'n' roll.

Anyway, we get an excerpt from a Rolling Stone piece about the new album this week, along with plenty of other good articles. Read on, readers.

  • Metallica has to warm up before shows because they be getting on in the years, we find out in the NY Times.


  • Beck was stung by a bee, or wasp, or something, we find out in this long-ish Pitchfork interview.


  • In case you missed Bumbershoot, here's more than you probably need to know.


  • Blender asked songwriter Randy Newman and Girl Talk to analyze the presidential candidates music picks. Here's a direct link to their brief remarks.


  • TV on the Radio are really horrible at titling things, we find out in this Rolling Stone Q&A.


  • According to this Rolling Stone excerpt, the idea for AC/DC's "TNT" came from Road Runner cartoons, which is -- going out on a limb here -- cool.
  • ...
    [Read More]

    E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!


    Videos: Metallica, Hot Chip, Wilco

    Posted at 2:57 pm

    Is there a YouTube backlash yet? Probably not. Can we start one?

    I'm really tired of seeing awful videos shot on horrible digital cameras with mediocre sound broadcast in poor resolution. Please, concertgoers of the world: Stop posting every song by every band in every concert ever.

    Those complaints aside, occassionally, a good clip does slip through, as is the case with this duet by Wilco and the Fleet Foxes. Solid sound and decent camerawork (all things considered) make the Spokane, Wash., performance watchable.

    See that and more below.

    Wilco with Fleet Foxes - "I Shall Be Released" - Live Dylan cover

    The Seattle band of the moment continues its string of blog-friendly successes by guesting with Wilco on stage for a cover of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." It's a formidable pairing of folk-country-rock and, together, the two do undeniable justice to the tune. And hey! The video isn't nauseatingly jittery ! Nice work, guy in the crowd with a digital camera, whoever you are!



    Metallica - "The Day That Never Comes" - Video

    The first half of this 8-minute-plus video is pretty much as dull and bloated as the first half of the song. During the song's second half, as Metalica starts shredding, the guitar licks draw you into a grim and suspenseful frame of mind as - spoiler alert! - nothing much happens. Oddly, that ends up being a relief.



    Hot Chip - "Wrestlers" - Video

    This light clip for the song "Wrestlers" finds the Brits in Hot Chip talking smack as best they can, which is not very. My favorite line: "I learned all I know from watching wrestling. I think you think I'm about to throw the towel in." The one about a "half nelson, full nelson, Willie Nelson" is also fun, though. These guys are great.


    ...
    [Read More]

    E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!


    Concert presales: Metallica, Scars on Broadway, Conor Oberst

    Posted at 8:47 am

    After virtually no shows went on sale last week, we’ve got a glut of metal acts with presales this week, led by none other than Metallica.

    The group intends to release its latest, "Death Magnetic", on Sept. 12. The album is being billed as a return to 1980s-styled shredding, not the mainstream modern rock that characterized its past couple efforts.

    Fans can get tickets to that show RIGHT NOW through a presale, or take advantage of presales to Scars on Broadway, Down and Dragonforce — a British metal act — by following the links below. Keep in mind, no prices include service fees, etc.

  • Metallica, at Key Arena, Seattle, presale from now to 10 p.m. Thursday, $59.50 to $79.50. Presale password is “magnetic.” Tickets for the Dec. 1 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday.


  • Down, at the Showbox SoDo, Seattle, presale from 10 a.m. today to 10 p.m. Friday, $28. Presale password is “kisw.” Tickets for the Oct. 30 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday.


  • Dragonforce, at the Showbox SoDo, Seattle, presale from 10 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Friday, $25. Presale password is “dragonforce.” Tickets for the Nov. 3 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday.


  • Scars on Broadway, at the Showbox SoDo, Seattle, presale from 10 a.m. today to 10 p.m. Friday, $19.50. Presale password is “showbox.” Tickets for the Nov. 15 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday.


  • In Flames, at the Showbox SoDo, Seattle, presale from 10 a.m. today to 10 p.m. Thursday, $20. Presale password is “inflames.” Tickets for the Nov. 18 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday.


  • Minus the Bear, at Showbox at the Market, Seattle, presale from 10 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Friday, $18.50. Presale password is “showbox.” Tickets for the Nov. 22 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday.


  • Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band, with Jenny Lewis, at Showbox at the Market, Seattle, presale from 10 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Friday, $25. Presale password is “showbox.” Tickets for the Oct. 26 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday.


  • Also going on sale without presales:

  • Santogold, at the Showbox SoDo, Seattle, $22.50. Tickets for the Oct. 4 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. today.


  • Method Man and Redman, at the Showbox SoDo, Seattle, $25. Tickets for the Nov. 5 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday.
  • ...
    [Read More]

    E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!


    Weekend reading: The Beatles, Death Cab, Randy Newman

    Posted at 11:21 am

    Bumbershoot fast approaches, and so we get an interview with Ben Gibbard in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

    The singer says his band may never have as big a hit as "Plans," the group's major label debut, and also extols the virtue of Australia, where the group recently toured.

    It's a solid Q&A, as are all these other articles. Dig in:

  • Death Cab for Cutie are "certainly not Aerosmith," Ben Gibbard tells the PI, also mentioning he likes Obama because he's "electric," but "not a diety."


  • We find out in this Rolling Stone excerpt that Randy Newman isn't crazy about Disney animators re-writing history, while the New York Times also profiles the songwriter. (You may need to register with the NYT to access that article.)


  • We are reminded by the New Yorker that rapper David Banner was born with the much more awesome name of Lavell Crump.


  • While talking with an LA Times blogger, Zach de la Rocha deftly sidesteps a question about how Rage's meathead fans grew violent at Lollapalooza. He's a regular politician, that Zach!


  • God took away George Martin's hearing to knock the Beatles' producer down a peg or two, we find out in the Washington Post.
  • ...
    [Read More]

    E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!


    Videos: Kanye, Kings of Leon and the Walkmen

    Posted at 3:53 pm

    OK, I’m back from vacation, so I’ll be posting religiously again. My apologies to any regular readers who have felt shunned these past weeks.

    For this video round-up, we’ve got some good, some bad and some ugly. We start with the ugly from a band that I really genuinely like. Sigh.

    The Walkmen — “In the New Year” — Video

    You know how sometimes a video looks great, but the song is just awful, and the whole thing works better with the sound off? Well, the Walkmen’s lead video from “You & Me” is sort of the opposite of that. It works better if you can’t see it. It’s so very bad. So very, very bad. But hey, good song guys!



    Kanye West — “Good Morning” — Video

    OK — let’s see how long this video stays posted. My guess: A couple of hours. It’s getting pulled down elsewhere, so if this link ends up dead, I apologize. Whatever the case, the video finds Japenese artist Takashi Murakami collaborating again with West (Murakami also did the album cover for “Graduation.”) The clip finds West’s alter ego, that cute little bear, hustling through a psychedelic city on his way to graduation. It’s not a great clip, but its good.



    Kings of Leon — “Sex on Fire” — Video

    Kings of Leon write some good songs, but wordsmiths they are not. Here we get a chorus that actually includes the line, “This sex is on fire.” Seriously, guys? That’s the best you can do? What does that even mean? It's just bad. Anyway, here’s the video for the song, which, in and of itself, really isn't that bad.


    ...
    [Read More]

    E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!


    Videos: Death Cab, John Legend/Andre 3000

    Posted at 2:43 pm

    I read Steve Martin's memoir a little bit ago, and in it, he talks a lot about finding new comedy, which, yes, I know, sounds a bit pompous - but apparently makes a decent amount of sense to comics, based on Jerry Seinfeld's blurb about the book.

    Anyway, I say all this because, watching Death Cab's "No Sunlight" video, I have a feeling we're staring at the new comedy. The humor of movies like "Rushmore" has finally trickled down into music videos like this one, to the point where it doesn't come off as original, but simply commonplace.

    That's not to say it isn't funny. Good old Stretch gets some laughs. Anyway, see the video for yourself, along with ones by Sigur Ros and John Legend, below.

    Death Cab for Cutie - "No Sunlight" - Video

    I'm a bit late on posting this Death Cab video, starring Ben "Stretch" Gibbard. The clip finds the local faves squaring off in a WhirlyBall tournament. A solid clip, it milks the Wes Anderson/"The Office" aesthetic for laughs.



    John Legend with Andre 3000 - "Green Light" - Video

    Ah, Andre 3000. Along with helping Legend out on the chorus to this song, the Outkast rapper tosses in an extended verse around the 3:30 mark, saying he's got his girl "giggling like a piglet." Which means … I don't know what. But does it really matter? My favorite part: The end of the video, when 3000 leaves the party the following morning on a bicycle.



    Sigur Ros - "Inní mér syngur vitleysingur" - Video

    The Icelandic art rockers put out this live performance as their video for “Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur," which translates to “Within Me a Lunatic Sings." This is probably the best song off the group's latest, more accessible album, “Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaus."


    ...
    [Read More]

    E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!


    Updated concerts: Presales for Duffy, Fleet Foxes, Hold Steady

    Posted at 4:29 pm

    Fleet Foxes are quickly graduating from smaller venues to larger halls.

    The Seattle group has already jumped from playing clubs like Neumos in April to headlining an upcoming show at the Moore Theatre. It’s at least the group’s third concert in the area since spring, when the harmony-loving quintet released its debut on Sub Pop Records.

    Tickets for the Moore Theatre gig, along with concerts from Weezer and Duffy, go on sale in the coming days. Here’s the info, keeping in mind prices don’t include service fees, etc.

  • Weezer with Angels and Airwaves and Tokyo Police Club, at Key Arena, Seattle, presales from now to 10 p.m. Friday, $26 to $46. I don’t have any passwords yet, but the link above should let you buy tickets from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday. Tickets for the Oct. 11 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday.


  • Duffy, at the Showbox SoDo, Seattle, presale right now to 10 p.m. Thursday, $27.50. Password is "duffy." Tickets for the Oct. 17 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday.


  • Fleet Foxes, at the Moore Theatre, Seattle, presales from 10 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Friday, $15. Presale password is "stg." Tickets for the Oct. 19 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday.


  • The Hold Steady and the Drive-By Truckers, at the Showbox SoDo, Seattle, presale right now, $26.50. No password required if you follow the link above. Tickets for the Nov. 20 and 21 shows on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday.


  • Gwar, at the Showbox SoDo, Seattle, presale right now to 10 p.m. Thursday, $20. Password is "slavepit." Tickets for the Nov. 12 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday.


  • Infected Mushroom, at the Showbox SoDo, Seattle, presales from 10 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Friday, $25. Password is "delicious." Tickets for the Sept. 26 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday.


  • Shudder to Think, at Showbox at the Market, Seattle, presale from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, $20. Password is "showbox." Tickets for the Oct. 30 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Saturday.


  • MSTRKRFT, at Showbox at the Market, Seattle, presale from 10 a.m. today to 10 p.m. Thursday, $18. I don’t have any passwords yet. If you do, you know what to do. Tickets for the Oct. 2 show on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday.
  • ...
    [Read More]

    E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!


    On vacation

    Posted at 12:51 pm

    Hello, readers.

    I'll be out of the office on vacation until next Monday. Sadly, you'll have to look elsewhere for video clips, free music info and concert presale passwords in the coming days.

    While I'll be back on Aug. 18, until then, I leave you with this clip. Study it. Contemplate it. Consider its metaphorical implications. I think there's a graduate thesis hidden in there somewhere:

    ...
    [Read More]

    E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!

     
    Weekend reading: Big Boi, Trent Reznor, Madonna  August 9
    Videos: MIA, Coldplay, the Hold Steady  August 8
    Concert presale passwords: Panic at the Disco, Randy Newman  August 6
    Freebies: Gavin Rossdale show; music from the Walkmen  August 5
    Weekend reading: Sugarland; rappers heart Obama  August 1
    Videos: Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend, Chromeo  July 31
    Updated concerts: Linda Ronstadt, Jason Mraz, Jewel  July 30
    Free music: New Kings of Leon single  July 28
    Weekend reading: Rolling Stones, Jonas Bros., My Chemical Romance  July 25
    Videos: Rihanna, Gnarls Barkley, Chemical Brothers  July 24
    Concerts: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Goldfrapp, Jamie Lidell  July 23
    Videos: Feist on Sesame St., the Hold Steady on Letterman  July 17
    Concert presales: Lindsey Buckingham, Toadies, Finnish metal  July 16
    Free music: New Coldplay track not included on latest album  July 14
    Weekend reading: Flaming Lips, Chris Martin, Disturbed  July 11
    ADVERTISEMENT

     

    View all Top Cars
     

    Classifieds
    Jobs
    Cars
    Homes
     
    CONTACT THE HERALD
    Elaine Helm, New Media Editor
    ehelm@heraldnet.com
     
    ADVERTISEMENT

    1. Boeing Machinists dig in for long strike
    2. Job cuts shake up county workers
    3. Everett gets tough on nuisances
    4. Unsolved murder devastated family
    5. If a home is a little weird, can it be sold?
    6. Filtering out facts from fluff in the election
    7. 'A Safe Place to Hang Out'
    8. Arlington physician recalled for his family adventures
    9. Opener is big ... but not that big
    10. Strikes' resolution crucial to Gregoire
    Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
    Monroe slams shaky Shorewood in opener
    Ferry lane grows one-mile longer
    Bringing the world to Edmonds
    FEMA turns to media to improve public image
    Annexation's frustrations
    A run for Charlotte
    Annexation's frustrations
    Minimalist food bars have local flavor
    E-W aims for fifth straight league title
    The Enterprise Online Newspaper