Live: Sharon Van Etten and Shearwater at Wexner Center 2/14/12

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Music, indie, Live, Sharon Van Etten, Shearwater, Columbus, Ohio, Concert, Review

No photos for this one, but a concert writeup anyway.

February 14th can be annoying. So contrary to the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I spent the best part of my day listening to words about failed relationships, suicide and depression. But it’s not what it sounds like at all – such perceived negativity came from beautiful phrases that filled the air alongside poignant music. It was Sharon Van Etten‘s appearance at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio.

The evening began with an opening group called Shearwater, a band that I hadn’t really noticed before. It didn’t take very long to realize that I had been missing out. Their lively rock managed to blend the more pop-oriented versions of Sonic Youth’s noise with the pastoral reflections of Talk Talk. Moments of shimmering guitar beauty were balanced very nicely with swirling feedback and pure noise. Curiously, their work may have stolen some thunder from the main act – Shearwater’s music was louder, more aggressive, and more dancable. In fact, their new release Animal Joy may merit future listening, based only on the live sampling I got. After Shearwater played an encore and a brief break for stage setup, the crowd was ready for the headliner.

Sharon Van Etten’s set began with a slightly more difficult start, but gained steam as the night continued. Sharon was chatty and almost bubbly between songs, and she seemed genuinely pleased to be performing and sharing the stage with her band. Particularly early on in the performance, she noted that her touring band was fairly new and they were still working out the kinks. Luckily, the actual playing was never in question; simply the mechanics of getting a song started were a bit rusty.

For the uninitiated, Van Etten’s voice is the centerpiece on her records, and the same held true with this performance. Acoustic guitars and careful layering of electrics allow her beautiful human instrument to pierce through. And pierce is certainly the best way to describe its power. From the most quiet of coos to the power of her phrasing, Sharon Van Etten’s songs excel because her voice  is able to impart such electrifying emotion and urgency. You can feel the strain in her throat and it’s just as mesmerizing on stage as in headphones.

The highlight of the night was a jaw-dropping rendition of Van Etten’s “Don’t Do It,” a song that I had previously praised as the best of 2010. After a brief introduction to the song (some joking about the irony of playing the negatively titled song “I figured I would do it… you know, ‘Don’t Do It’ but do it”), it kicked off with haunting guitars and ghostly vocal manipulation by one of the other band members. The entire performance space was enveloped by the sound, the pained cries and the soothing reassurance of Van Etten’s words. Quite simply, it was one of the most cathartic live music experiences I’ve ever had.

Sharon Van Etten and Shearwater formed a great concert pair and were well worth the price of admission. Strong musical ability, entertaining compositions and very personable banter with an excellent crowd made this a great show at an impressive venue. Keep an eye out for both of these acts – even as they seem poised for commercial breakthrough, they’re already very impressive right now.

Best Albums of 2011: #5-1

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2011, Best of, Cults, Decemberists, Dolorean, indie, Music, PJ Harvey, TV on the Radio, Year End

Here we go, with the five best albums of 2011. Did I forget a great one? Is your favorite album better than my favorite album? Let me know about it in the comments – I certainly haven’t heard everything from last year and I’d love to learn about more great music that I missed.

05. Cults by Cults // Even by internet standards, Cults faced an uphill battle against the blog hype machine. They appeared as if out of nowhere, had a mysterious boy-girl sound and released the absolute gem “Go Outside” in 2010 on their Bandcamp page. By the time their self-titled debut came out, they were expected to release a pop masterpiece and save music (or something). That didn’t happen, but the record is excellent anyway. The songs are loaded with hooks and constructed in easily-digestible 3 minute bursts. Melodies shine and vocals impress. Dark, echo-filled production gives a deeper sound than typical indie pop. And most importantly, on top of all the other merits, Cults is just fun. Certainly not perfect, but still exceptional.

04. Nine Types of Light by TV on the Radio // I am astounded by the (relatively) negative reaction to the new TVotR record. After three straight releases accompanied by critical drooling, Nine Types of Light has fallen on deaf ears. And it’s a shame, because this is the most complete, accessible and best release in the TVotR catalog. The accessible part is at once the most important and deceiving thing about Nine Types. The record is easy to get into because of song structure, warmth and content. Things are still artful, but never at the expense of song quality, the production is less industrial, and the lyrics gush about love. Yet this is still TV on the Radio. The band is still exploring, pushing music to the limit and using layers of sound. It’s just so much easier to relate to, so much more pleasant on the ears, and so much more appealing to friends. Fall in love with this beautiful record.

Best Albums of 2011: #15-6

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2011, Best of, Black Keys, Bon Iver, Death Cab, Fleet Foxes, Frank Ocean, Low, Music, Radiohead, St. Vincent, White Denim

Here we go with Part 1 of the Best Albums of 2011. Despite the general lack of great albums, it was still tough to completely cut the list down. Good moments and good songs dominated my attention much more than full records, and plenty of singles were worthy of repeated listens. So a quick Honorable Mention to Bright Eyes, Tune Yards, Foster the People, Real Estate and Bibio for being insanely close to the top 15. Now on to the proper list:

15. Bon Iver by Bon Iver // That’s right, it isn’t the best album of 2011. Not even close. It’s a very hit-and-miss affair, and too obsessed with being arty instead of just being good. The lyrics are nonsense, and the last song is just awful. But you know what? When it clicks, it’s unparalleled. The first four songs are stunning in their stark beauty. If only the rest were that good.

14. El Camino by The Black Keys // The Black Keys are a real problem for me. They’re consistently releasing the most entertaining record of any given year, but they rarely sound any different from album to album. Luckily, that doesn’t really matter. Their brand of blues rock is fun and, when at its best, a great thrill ride. “Lonely Boy” is a wonderful selling point, and the rest of the songs are worth a spin. Rock and roll, people!

13. Nostalgia/Ultra by Frank Ocean // It’s a mixtape, yes, but this collection of songs is brimming with creativity and exceptional R&B. I haven’t totally bought into the Odd Future hype, but this is certainly the place to start. It’s catchy, funny, meaningful and free. For some the “free” thing might be a sign of lower quality, but that’s certainly not the case here. Sheer musical quality wins out and you’ll thank yourself for downloading this collection.

12. Codes and Keys by Death Cab for Cutie // This is the weakest Death Cab record in many years. Too often, the songs meander without direction or sound like somebody was left to goof around with electronics. But when the music connects, it’s like vintage DCFC. “Codes and Keys,” and “Portable Television” hit strong and stick well. But the real winner (and what really elevates the album) is closer “Stay Young, Go Dancing.” It’s a legitimate mood booster and wonderfully fun.

11. Strange Mercy by St. Vincent // Surely you’ve heard the hype, but have you actually heard the music? It’s arty rock with enough kick to appeal to your basic guitar love. It’s also pretty, flowing and weird in a way that keeps you guessing (and entertained) for the whole ride. And it also has a great voice and strong lyricist leading the way. Don’t view it as a novelty because Annie Clark is a woman. That’s stupid. Pick it up because it’s fantastic music.

Best Songs of 2011: #10-1

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2011, Battles, Best of, Black Keys, Cults, Deceberists, Dolorean, indie, M83, Music, Rock, Songs, St. Vincent, Tune Yards, TV on the Radio

Let’s continue and finish off the Best Songs of 2011 list. Did I miss a song? Was there a track that you couldn’t get enough of last year? Let me know what else I should check out in the comments section! Also, get all the songs in one place with the IWP Best Songs of 2011 Spotify Playlist!

10. “Caffeinated Consciousness” by TV on the Radio // There was not much fanfare made for the latest release by this Brooklyn band, and that’s unfortunate. Nine Types of Light is the most accessible TVoTR record, but never loses the innovative musical edge the band has been known for. “Caffeinated” one-ups the rest of their record by sounding stunningly unique in a collection of very singular songs. Of course, it helps that the song has the best riffs, vocals, and production all in one track. A very impressive feat for such a great band.

09. “Cheerleader” by St. Vincent // Internet reaction to St. Vincent has been oddly divided, likely thanks to Pitchfork’s loud praise for Annie Clark. In typical Pitchfork fashion, she hasn’t deserved all of their drool… but they’re not very far off. Clark’s newest record is full of great rock and songwriting moments, but the most exceptional piece is “Cheerleader.” The fist-pumping chorus is a brilliant draw while the vocal and lyrical quality draw you back time after time.

08. “Midnight City” by M83 // I first listened to M83 when everybody was fawning over Dead Cities, their breakthrough My-Bloody-Valentine-with-synths record. It seemed interesting, but way too dense for its own good. Nearly a decade later, “Midnight City” shows up on a fall music preview and I couldn’t believe it was the same band. The song has so much clarity, emotion, driven purpose, and is full of hooks. How could this be the sludgy band from 2003? Best advice – don’t worry about it and let those fat intro synth notes hit your ears again. Glorious.

07. “Ice Cream” by Battles // Even on their famously blunt epic “Atlas,” Battles always sounded like a party waiting to happen. This song is that promise realized. The intro alone is worth a spot in the top 10 of this year – the exceptional buildup for the first 50 seconds is unparalleled and releases into a wonderful jam. Yes rhythm nerds, it’s still very rooted in math rock. But guess what? This math rock is more fun than anything the preppy kids play at their parties. Listen causally for the excitement, be rewarded by the percussion and melody.

06. “Bizness” by Tune-Yards // “Bizness” knocks you over right away and never stops the assault. It sounds like nothing I’d ever heard and was immensely refreshing. And it continues to be. It’s total chaos, but completely ordered. That voice can be rhythmic, charming, quiet, booming and dominating all within one line. It’s passionate, exciting and, above all else, gripping. When it ends, you can’t help but listen again, if only to learn more.

Best Songs of 2011: #25-11

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2011, Best of, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Foster the People, Frank Ocean, indie, Music, PJ Harvey, Radiohead, Songs, The Roots

Welcome to the Best Songs of 2011. Let’s kick this off with the first of two sets of songs. Each song will have a link to its Spotify version, and at the end of the second set we’ll have a link to a Spotify playlist so you can hear the songs yourself. Enjoy!

25. “Someone’s Gonna Break Your Heart” by Fountains of Wayne // The band best known for “Stacy’s Mom” should get more attention for their terrifying ability to construct hooks. This delightful pop gem will get your attention and warm your heart.

24. “Perth” by Bon Iver // Bon Iver isn’t nearly as good as people would have you believe, but the record is capable of powerful emotional and musical moments. Particularly, the swelling opener is captivating, hitting all the right notes and kicking things off right.

23. “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People // I know. It was overplayed to the point of exhaustion, pushed at you from every ad, radio station and YouTube link. But you know what? It’s a damn catchy tune, and risky too. It’s sparse almost to the point of breaking yet still establishes melody, deceptive lyrics and a memorable vocals. That’s impressive.

22. “A Candle’s Fire” by Beirut // On paper I like what Beirut is about, but I’ve never given them a chance before. With this year’s The Rip Tide I finally tried them out and found a satisfying departure from typical indie music. Emotive singing and exceptional instrumentals make the first song worth your time.

21. “Money” by The Drums // There’s something satisfying in listening to a song this air-tight. Not a note is out of place, and the structure is well-balanced and doesn’t get repetitive. Add to that the swift pace and simple lyrics, and you’ve got a high-energy winner.

20. “Codex” by Radiohead // The King of Limbs was disappointing for many reasons, but this was not one of them. In fact, “Codex” is the sound of Radiohead making the only song close to their prior excellence. Equal parts soothing and depressing, this is how reflective piano pieces should work.

19. “Grown Ocean” by Fleet Foxes // Helplessness Blues just didn’t have the same immediacy or impact on me as the debut Fleet Foxes. But here was one song that honestly sounded like the band making forward progress, and it was great. “Grown Ocean” felt much harder-hitting, much deeper, while still retaining that distinctive Fleet Foxes feel.

18. “22-22″ by Black Ice Birds // I will be honest here – I don’t know a damn thing about this band. Their Facebook page claims origins in the UK, but it doesn’t matter. This song simply rocks and after hearing it on a music blog I couldn’t put it aside. Black Ice Birds exude confidence and back up that kind of attitude with powerful singing, guitar and fun drums.

17. “The Words that Maketh Murder” by PJ Harvey // PJ Harvey’s newest record is insanely difficult to pull from itself. Each song adds to a terrific atmosphere and nothing feels out of place. “Maketh Murder” is perhaps the best entry point for those curious but uncertain – it’ll hook you and when the United Nations coda kicks in you will get blown away.

16. “Romance” by Wild Flag // This indie quasi-supergroup sets off in the best way possible. The attacking open sounds like the best ringtone of all time (no really, that’s a good thing) and the relentless stream of pure rock carries it the rest of the way. The concept of this song is fun and the band has the chops to pull it off.

15. “Get Away” by Yuck // Everybody is obsessed about this being 90s throwback. Don’t worry about it – it’s simply fantastic noise rock. It’s fast enough to avoid being sludgy and intricate enough to be artsy, all while building some great hooks and featuring soaring guitars. If you pretend to like rock music, you’ll find something in here.

14. “The Otherside” by The Roots // I will admit to ignorance when analyzing The Roots – I’ve really only followed them since they joined Late Night. But this changes how I view their talent. The rapping and stunning wordplay is unparalleled (“Spending time like it’s counterfeit”). The rhythm section is flawless. And it all pulls together in the showstopping chorus. Jimmy Fallon is damn lucky to have this band.

13. “Think You Can Wait” by The National // Last year’s Best Album winners come back with two singles cut from the same cloth as High Violet. “Exile Vilify” captures the nerd vote in its Portal 2 cameo, but “Think You Can Wait” is the superior track. Dripping with emotion, powerful vocals, shimmering strings, Sharon Van Etten(!) and dark bass make this a typical National song. And therefore stellar.

12. “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)” by Foster the People // I know. It’s another Foster the People song. I’m obviously losing touch. But seriously – have you heard this song? I mean, you have. It’s perhaps more “everywhere” than “Pumped Up Kicks,” but for good reason. The CDC is probably going to classify the melody as an infectious disease. It’s in a similar vein to Two Door Cinema Club – nothing groundbreaking, but so damn good at what it does. This is a winner.

11. “Songs for Women” by Frank Ocean // “Novacane” may be more technically impressive, but this track is the looser, more appealing song from Frank Ocean’s excellent debut mixtape. It’s full of comedy, musical excellence and pure joy. If more R&B could get close to this, I wouldn’t have such a bad impression of the genre.

The Best of 2011: Celebrating a Bad Year in Music

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2011, Best of, Music, Year End

The title of this post tends slightly into hyperbole, but only just slightly. Yes, it’s time for the end-of-year music reviews that happen over every blog, magazine, newspaper and website. Hell, even I’ve been posting Best Of lists since 2008. In most years, I’ve found the task of list- every blog, magazine, newspaper and website. In most years, I’ve found the task of list-making and internal debate to be a fun one: it’s enjoyable to reflect on the great music that a full 12 months has supplied, and rewarding to add hype to artists that are deserving.

This year is different. I’ve listened to just as much music (if not more) than I have in any previous year, but the music just doesn’t cut it. In particular, this year appears more bleak thanks to 2010. Yes, last year presented more than 20 records that I could have easily included in a top-10 list. And I am quite honestly still listening to the majority of those releases. The National, Arcade Fire, Spoon, LCD Soundsystem… it’s like a superstar lineup of established acts, and each one delivered another exceptional record. Even the artists I encountered for the first time (Sharon Van Etten, Two Door, Janelle Monae, Best Coast) had exceptionally rewarding music.

This year has neither the abundance of guaranteed talent, nor the exciting new discoveries. Of the list of albums I’ve assembled, only the top pick represents a superb achievement from a typically strong band. And while three new-to-me artists currently appear in the top 10, none of these groups would be very likely to appear in my 2010 top 20 list.

Perhaps the most accurate description of 2011 is how it was dealt an unfair hand. Unlike the perfect storm of album releases seen in 2010, we were left generally waiting in 2011. Modest Mouse and the Shins are in a holding pattern. Radiohead released a very underwhelming set of songs. Bon Iver was not nearly as good as you all think it was.

Even the list of songs I’m working on isn’t as essential or exciting as those seen in 2009 or 2010. Nothing has been able to compare with “Don’t Do It” or “While You Wait for the Others” (although one track certainly put up a good fight). It’s really a shame that the short-form music wasn’t much better, especially with so many albums failing to captivate.

But in my self-imposed music blogger duty, we’re still going to run down the Best of 2011. Don’t interpret the overall lower quality as a claim that everything was bad. In fact, there are things worth listening to and you’ll see them here. Just know that much of the content on these lists isn’t as worthy as what you saw on my old blog in 2009 and 2010.

The Schedule: Best Songs of 2011 #25-11 Monday 1/9, #10-1 Tuesday 1/10. Best Albums of 2011 #15-6 Thursday 1/12, #5-1 Friday 1/13.

Radiohead Revisited: Salvation in the Basement

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Basement, Blog, Music, Radiohead, Redemption

How TV Saved the Record

From late 1994 through 2009, Radiohead went on an insane run as the greatest band on the planet.  Almost everything they touched caused critics to drool uncontrollably and fans to purchase records and concert tickets without reservation.  After a merely good debut, Radiohead proceeded to dominate Brit-rock, create one of the greatest records of all time, blend rock and electronica, and then come back around to make a statement about the record industry.  Even their few missteps were glanced over (The Eraser), and their more divisive efforts were eventually regarded as near-perfect (Kid A and Amnesiac).  Radiohead just didn’t seem like a band that could do anything wrong.

Then along came The King of Limbs.  It was quite shocking in a number of ways. Firstly, it came out of nowhere.  The band took to their website on Monday February 14 to announce the record.  That Friday, Limbs was released.  Pretty quick turnaround by any standard.  The next shocking element was the length of record. The entire thing was only 37 minutes long and featured 8 total songs, making it the shortest proper release in Radiohead’s history.

But the real shock was the music itself.  On first listen, it was without structure, without rock sensibility and pushed into semi-dubstep.  But the problem was that it just didn’t feel right.  Songs were too rhythmic and didn’t feature enough melody. There were plenty of layers to pull back, but it was very difficult to do so and the rewards weren’t quickly accessed.  Limbs was just hard to deal with, not great for a cursory listen, and didn’t seem as valuable even with careful ears.

So it came as a shock to me that the record could be truly saved.  And then it was. By television.

Moving Orange and Panthers

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ACC, Basketball, Big East, Pitt, Sports, Syracuse

Big East No More

In recent years, the college basketball world has been quick to shift its focus after the regular season ends.  Fans, players, coaches and the media watch games with exceptional talent, thrilling storylines and unpredictable results.  And that’s all before March Madness even kicks into gear.  That’s right, it’s the Big East Tournament, hosted in Madison Square Garden.  But in the near future it won’t be that way for those in Upstate NY or eastern Pennsylvania.  The NCAA football conference upheaval has reared its ugly head again – Syracuse and Pitt are headed to the ACC.

But you know that already.  If you pay any attention to sports in the US, you’re likely overwhelmed by all this conference talk.  So why further the discussion here? Because the basketball perspective is still quite dizzying, and I need to sort out my own view on the move.

Welcome to In Words and Phrases

Welcome to the first post of In Words and Phrases.  This is a blog dedicated to the ideas and events around the authors.  Of course, that’s a pretty broad scope.  And that’s done on purpose.  Previously, the head author (that being me) spent time dealing with a music blog.  It was a very rewarding, but ultimately limiting adventure.  This was especially true of the blog name – it’s hard to fit sports commentary or photography in “Essential Listening.”

So here I am, trying this again but without such a narrow scope.  As of this inaugural writing, there are a few items lined up for IWP.  These posts have topics of music review, cooking discussion, and sports commentary.  You should expect to see the first proper post tomorrow afternoon.

By allowing my writing to wander with my interests, I hope to keep the writing fresh and the posts more frequent.  My old blog had fairly positive feedback, and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring popular music but its weakness was quite clear – it suffered excruciatingly long periods without any new articles.  Ideally, IWP will improve that by appealing to me.  When I’m tired of writing about music, I won’t have to.  When an idea strikes about the NHL, I can follow that and discuss my thoughts and not worry about blog topic consistency.

I do hope you’ll bear with me through the first few months of this new experiment.  It may ramble a bit and may not have a totally singular focus, but I think that will be more fun for everybody involved.  Thanks again for stopping by as we break the champagne on this boat.  I hope you enjoy In Words and Phrases.