Spring Break: Sasquatch!

-In addition to an expected appearance by Kings of Leon and a predicted appearance by Bon Iver, this year's Sasquatch! lineup features a ton of Pacific Northwest talent. While I am excited to see Seattle's Fleet Foxes (despite rumors that they suck live), the real spotlight seems to be on the Portland scene, with newer bands like Natalie Portman's Shaved Head playing alongside veterans such as M. Ward and The Decemberists. Even if you haven't bought a CD since the millenium, old favorites like NIN, Jane's Addiction and Murder City Devils will make the festival's steep ticket prices well worth it. The festival will take place from May 23-25th at The Gorge. more

Music Theory: Bon Iver

-I mentioned earlier that Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago was one of my favorite records of 2008. One of the benefits of discovering a band way after everyone else is that they will often release new material before you are even tired of the old material. Such is the case with Bon Iver, who just released Blood Bank EP a few weeks back. It was streaming in its entirety on their MySpace, which apparently now only feature's the haunting title track (below). The Sasquatch Festival lineup will be announced tomorrow, and I am hoping to see Bon Iver on the list, which is rumored to also include Kings of Leon.

Blood Bank - Bon Iver

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Report Card: Class Act 4.0's

-As we begin the new term, we at CA/E5S decided to look back at the things that made our inaugural year worth remembering. So, for the next few days we will be posting our 2008 essentials in groups of 4, with categories ranging from movies and music to clothing and tech gadgets.
-That being said, I'd like to start off with my top 4 records of 2004:

Neil Young-Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968
-There's not much left to be said about my man Neil. This record was recorded at an acoustic concert when he was 22, only a few weeks before the release of his first solo album. It is amazing how sophisticated his earliest work sounds, and he manages to wring a ton of emotion out of a single acoustic guitar.
Bon Iver-For Emma, Forever Ago
-Just as I was lamenting the fact that Neil Young's legacy is hardly being carried on by anyone but tooly neo-folkers like Devendra Banhart, I came across Bon Iver's debut record, which is built around haunting acoustic guitar and melancholy vocals. A little depressing, sure, but I'm working my way through Madame Bovary so the album's music and title are apt.
Copeland-You Are My Sunshine
-We've been trying to convince people that Aaron Marsh is an underappreciated pop genius since long before this site's inception, and this record is Copeland's most pristine and meaningful record yet. The production on "Not So Tough Found Out" is some of the best I've heard in a long time.
Kings of Leon-Only By The Night
-There has been a ton of hype surrounding this band and this album, but get past it and you'll find a classic, straightforward rock and roll record. I've listened to this album almost daily since its release and I still can't get enough of it. more

J School: Kings of New Media

-Kings of Leon have been busy since releasing their last album, Only By The Night. After tons of success overseas, the band has been trying to reach a larger audience here at home. For such a quintessentially American band, Kings of Leon have had surprisingly little success here, despite their superstar status in the UK. Europeans love Western movies, so its not hard to understand their love for a band that is essentially the musical equivalent.
-KOL have also been doing their part to kill print media once and for all. This months Spin Magazine features the band on the cover, and a free digital version has been released online. This new format is green, convenient, and features all of the same content, including the most informative Kings interview to date. more

Music Theory: Fall Albums

-A bunch of our favorite artists released new records this month, so we thought we'd do a concise round-up rather than review all of them.
-Due to our mutual admiration for Andrew McMahon, we have reached an editorial consensus and decided to abstain from reviewing the new Jack's Mannequin as it is absolutely terrible. We'll give it an I for incomplete.
-Kings of Leon's Because of the Times was my favorite album of 2007, and their new one might just edge out Nas for this year's title. The band insists that Only by the Night is their most upbeat record, and for the most part it is. However, tracks like the aptly titled "Cold Desert" are still saturated with the Southern edge that got them famous and the desolate ambiance that defined Because of the Times. A.
-LA's best rapper just released a new album, and it's not called LAX. Murs has worked his way up from the underground with the help of steady campaigning and word of mouth. Murs for President is a solid record, but too much political commentary has me wishing he would go back to spitting about girls and skateboarding. B-.
-TV on the Radio blew me away a few years ago with their Young Liars EP, and I am still completely floored by everything they put out. There is nothing left to be said about the indie media darlings: they are black (almost), they live in Brooklyn, they kind of sound like Genesis, yada yada. All I know is that they are easily the most sonically creative band since Radiohead. Still, Dear Science is a small step down from their last few. A-. more

Intro to Cinema: YouTube & Young Manhood

-In a recent interview with The Quietus, Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. laid out the ethic behind his band's inimitable style, saying simply: "Live like you're on stage." While the hard-drinking, model-dating Strokes have perfected this approach over the years, the so-called "redneck Strokes" seem to share the same mentality.
-Kings of Leon have seen more than their fair share of hype in the years since the release of their debut, Youth & Young Manhood. Like Hammond's crew, the Southern family outfit has been defined by equal parts booze and swagger. In anticipation of the September 23rd release of their third LP, Only By The Night, that band has been posting daily videos to their YouTube channel. Kings of Leon have consistently been defined by their Southern roots, and they certainly play the part: in addition to copious studio footage, the YouTube videos feature the band singing hymns with their mom and tailgating before a college football game.
-Kings' Because of the Times was easily my favorite record of last year, so I'm eagerly anticipating their newest effort. Stay tuned for a full review in the coming weeks. more