top of the pop banana!

since their formation in 1998, palomar have traipsed the indie easy streets of brooklyn, humbly perfecting pop. despite risky lineup changes, their fourth album, all things, forests maintains all the cutsey power pop hooks and effortlessly pretty harmonies you’ve come to expect of these gals (and guy!, dale miller, who is endearingly shunned in nearly every recent photo of the group). in addition, all things, lives up to it’s sort of somber cover art, showing off the band’s mature, more serious side. life’s no bowl of cherries, but palomar makes even the darkest parts sound awfully sweet with catchy tracks like, “keeping us up” and “woah!!”

for more info,
including info on their upcoming record release party at the mercury lounge: http://www.palomartheband.com/
http://www.myspace.com/palomar

two thousand six picks.

best albums:
1. band of horses: everything all the time.
2. the gossip: standing in the way of control.
3. peaches: impeach my bush.
4. yeah yeah yeahs: show your bones.
5. the editors: the back room.
6. built to spill: you in reverse.
7. pearl jam: s/t.
8. cat power: the greatest.
9. the sails: s/t.
10. sunset rubdown: shut up i am dreaming.

best compilation:
pj harvey: the peel sessions.

best live album:
my morning jacket: okonokos

album i should like more than i do:
she wants revenge: s/t.

best music dvds:
pj harvey: please leave quietly.
my morning jacket: okonokos.

best dance songs:
i don’t feel like dancing: scissor sisters.
i don’t wanna fall in love: she wants revenge.
military fashion show: and one.
sexy back: justin timberlake.*
wind it up: gwen stefani.*

* denotes guilty pleasure candidates, so stop your snickering.

best live performances: my morning jacket, pearl jam, wolf parade, band of horses, peaches, the gossip, no dynamics, diamond nights, yeah yeah yeahs, madonna, nin.

no crying wolfe.

when calling to mind all of the memorable riot grrrl bands you listened to as a zine-reading pre-teeny, bratmobile is sure to be remembered as one of the few feminist bands who were actually fun! sure their raw garage sound was chock full of girl-friendly, queer-friendly punk politics, but also, they were fun!! like allison wolfe’s other bands, the cold cold hearts and deep lust, partyline proves that girl punk can be simultaneously smart and dancey.

with it’s over the top absurdity and catchy dance punk sensibility, their first full length album, zombie terrorist ,is refreshing and virtually irresistable. topics addressed include the war on choice, the war on women, the war on gays, and other sweetly anti-bush sentiments. since the majority of songs speed by in two minutes or less, you’re likely to suffer lyrical whiplash, unless you break out the liner notes, where you’ll find tongue in cheek cheerleader chants like , “ain’t got the right, ain’t got no life, ain’t got no right? right.” and that’s not even from the catchiest song (which by the way is "trophey wifey"- see video below)! perfect for all those weird parties amy sedaris’s latest book has got you planning.

what a wonderful band.

my morning jacket
roseland ballroom
november 30, 2006

set list: one big holiday, what a wonderful man, gideon, the way that he sings, off the record, just one thing, it beats 4 u, wordless chorus, lowdown, lay low, phone went west, dondante, run thru, they ran.
encore: tonight i want 2 celebrate with you, nashville to kentucky, golden, steam engine, dance floors, mahgeetah, anytime.

my morning jacket have come a long way from the reverb-drowned sounds of their early efforts, the tenessee fire and at dawn. over the past few years, they have grown from no name down home boys into modern day missionaries devoted to spreading the alt country word. after dazzling critics with the flawless country rock gem, it still moves, and more recently with the quirky, Z, buzz began spilling over from the indie community into the much larger and more mainstream rock world. with endless months of touring under their cowboy belts (including their recent arena tour supporting seattle grunge gurus, pearl jam), the band’s consistently impressive live performances continue to earn them a loyal fan base; equal parts hipster and balding rocker.

barely a year after their last new york show, mmj returned to promote their live double cd/dvd, okonokos (both released this fall). all of roseland ballroom quickly fell under their southern spell as the band’s shadows took stage from behind a white sheet. anticipatory finger horns and air fists flew up from the audience until at last the sheet fell just as the band launched into the first wild riffs of “one big holiday.” from there the momentum kept building, even when the band switched from classic rock kickers like “run thru” to revisit their country roots with slower, sweeter songs like “nashville to kentucky” and fan favorite, “golden.”

written almost ten years apart, the similarly reggae infused “phone went west” and “off the record” demonstrate mmj’s ability to evolve without ever having to let go of the enchanting echoes that haunt the prettiest of their early works. the sweet epic “dondante” and the literally wordless chorus of “wordless chorus” allow jim james‘ stark falsetto to finally float out from it‘s previous tin can hiding spot.

their jam band meanderings and classic rock inspired breakdowns are nothing to laugh at, but james’ moon boots and unabashed love for lionel ritchie proved that the band still knows how to let loose and have fun.

how royce rolls.

royce
tuff love
galapagos4

like the chicago wind they rushed in on, royce are cool and breezy. their second album, tuff love, is actually not that tough to love given it’s streetwise bark and electro bite. what sets these guys apart from similar up-and-coming artists like the streets are the surprisingly semi-sweet indie moments which could make even experimental veterans like yo la tengo, tango. blast this in your headphones while you strut down the steamy mean streets of the city. you’ll feel tough and maybe even a little bit pretty.

http://www.roycelove.com/

hear 'em.

reality serum: s/t.
supple records.

remember when rock infused rap was still an innovative idea? before the red hot chili peppers and the beastie boys had bored us all with a hundred albums each, and bands like system of a down, limp bizkit, (etc., etc., etc.) shamed the whole scene? yeah, me either.

but in the wake of that whole mess, braver bands are beginning to explore the unknown, trippy waters of ambient hip hop. reality serum have joined the likes of other genre-melding acts like tricky and 311 (in their amber days). with lickety-split lyrics spit over soothing tunes and hypnotic background vocals, this self-titled ep could easily be the dreamy sequel to the judgement night soundtrack.

enjoy yourself: http://www.myspace.com/realityserum

heart factory to close.

sleater-kinney
@ webster hall
8.02.06

set list: start together, the fox , the drama you've been craving , wilderness, jumpers, light rail coyote, night light, ironclad, rollercoaster, hot rock, what's mine is yours, youth decay, modern girl, let's call it love, entertain, sympathy, dig me out, ballad of a ladyman, oh!, call the doctor, get up, words + guitar, turn it on, one more hour.

dear janet, corin + carrie,

over the last eleven years, you have grown from your raw riot grrrl roots into modern rock n’ roll masterminds. i love you because you always sound like you. i love you because no one else sounds like you. i love you because you scream and jump and kick, even when my city’s simmering with the sweat of a hundred hipsters. i love you because you saved my favorite song for last. and no, you don't have to leave for us to want you here to stay.

xo.

rip: http://www.sleater-kinney.com/