9/14/09: 2009 in Review

Hey everyone. This is probably going to be our last show for a while as the summer winds down, and school begins once again the schedule at WHUS is rotating to accommodate the influx of returning staff members. Don't worry fans, we'll still be on our own respective shows. Methanol Cereal will (hopefully) keep on truckin' on Wednesday evenings, ten to midnight and with the fall comes the return of DJ Next Door's Anger Your Neighbors. This isn't to say that we didn't enjoy doing this program together, but other commitments, as well as a desire to go our own ways and make room for new people on the schedule is, like last summer, leading us to suspend the show for the time being. We had a pretty good run this year. Maybe not the blockbuster status of last year, but it was good. Maybe we'll do something again next summer. We'll see. Until then, you know where to find me.

Song - Artist - Album - Label

No Home - The Ettes - Do You Want Power - Take Root

Call Me - Franz Ferdinand - War Child Presents: Heroes - Astralwerks/War Child
My Maudlin Career - Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career - 4AD
Microphone - Coconut Records - Davy - Young Baby
Should Have Shot Paul - Strange Boys - ...And Girls Club - In the Red

O Maria! - Sea Wolf - White Water, White Bloom - Dangerbird
My Time Outside the Womb - Titus Andronicus - Airing of Grievances - XL
All We Need Baby, Is Everything - Handsome Furs - Face Control - Sub Pop
House - Abe Vigoda - Reviver EP - Post Present Medium
Feel.Love.Thinking.Of - Faunts - Feel.Love.Thinking.Of - Friendly Fire
Paddling Ghosts - Dan Deacon - Bromst - Carpark

This Tornado Loves You - Neko Case - Middle Cyclone - Anti
Stick Up For Me - Reigning Sound - Love & Curses - In the Red
Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz! - Interscope

When I Died - The Thermals - Now We Can See - Kill Rock Stars
One, Two...One - Say Hi - Oohs & Aahs - Barsuk
Walking Alone at Night - Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong - In the Red
Friday XIII - Deer Tick - Born on Flag - Partisan
River of Dirt - Marissa Nadler - Little Hells - Kemado
Laughing With A Mouth of Blood - St. Vincent - Actor - 4AD

Into the Shadows of My Embrace - WHY? - Eskimo Snow - Anticon
The Man in Your House - Mi Ami - Watersports - Quarterstick
The Rake's Song - The Decemberists - Hazards of Love - Capitol
False Jesii pt 2 - Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans - Sub Pop

Effigy - Andrew Bird - Noble Beast - Fat Possum
Psychosomatic - Magik Markers - Balf Quarry - Drag City
Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest - Warp

and that's all she wrote.

-B

An Evening at Mountain Park

Hello all! So, I meant to post this ages ago, but that's the way things go sometimes. If you were listening closely to our show than maybe you remember me talking about seeing The Decemberists live last month. Well, I wrote up this little review of the show, complete with a few pictures. Hope you enjoy!

Ever since I first heard The Decemberists Hazards of Love album I’ve been longing to see it performed live in its entirety. Of course, seeing the band live at all would be a thrill for me, which is why I loved their set at Newport Folk Festival. For that one day they took a break from performing the whole album and instead played a few select songs off of it, as well as a bunch of old favorites and two brand new songs. It was great, but there’s no denying that any song off of their new album is just that much better when heard sequentially. The Hazards of Love plays like a mini rock/folk/opera that was made for the stage, with songs overlapping and a story that unfolds slowly as each character is introduced. A concept album. So, when I saw that they were playing the opening weekend of Mountain Park I knew this was my chance to see Hazards onstage!

Mountain Park was originally opened in 1894 as a retreat that expanded into an amusement park. It closed in 1987 but has now been reopened as a music venue by the Iron Horse Entertainment Group. This place is so new that the grass hasn’t even finished growing over the newly leveled ground. Despite all that, the site is quite picturesque and a great place to see a show on a warm August evening. The hill in front of the stage provides an excellent view, and, if you prefer to get a little closer to the action, there’s plenty of room to do so.

The Heartless Bastards opened the show. I can’t say I’m that familiar with their music and I was a bit too distracted with scoping the place out to pay close attention, but their set was al

right. Then, just as the light was fading, The Decemberists took to the stage. With little preamble, Jenny Conlee was the first to come out and strike up the opening bars of the Hazards of Love Prelude. After that the rest of the band filed in and took up their instruments… and didn’t put them down again until the whole album had been played. Watching the whole thing being performed, it struck me just how much like a play it is, though it’s being performed purely by voice and instrument. There are entrances and exits to be perfectly timed and, because of the way the songs bleed into one another, there’s barely any time to pause. It’s great to watch. The band was, of course, joined by Becky Stark voicing Margaret, and Shara Worden as the Forest Queen. And, I have to say it; can I please be Shara Worden when I grow up? Her voice and stage presence are simply amazing. Watching her and Colin Meloy sing The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid was one of the highlights of the night.

So, yes, having the whole album performed right there in front of me from start to tragic finish was incredible. But it didn’t end there. After the band was cheered back onstage we were treated to a bunch of old favorites as well as a new song and a chance to hear Meloy banter with the crowd. He performed Dracula’s Daughter with great gusto.

Another thing I was crossing my fingers to see was their cover of Heart’s Crazy on You. The youtube video I saw a few months ago was enough to convince me it would be amazing and I wasn’t disappointed. After being cheered back to the stage again Meloy performed Red Right Ankle and then the whole crew came back to perform an amazing Heart cover. Actually, I’m pretty sure I like it better then the original. After that they closed the show with Sons and

Daughters off of The Crane wife. The whole crowd sang along for the

refrain, and with that, the night was over.

So, in conclusion: The Decemberists put on an amazing live show. In fact, I’d say this definitely makes it into my top five favorite shows I’ve been to. Hopefully I’ll be able to catch them again next time they make it back to New England. As for Mountain Park itself, I definitely look forward to seeing what their lineup looks like next summer.

September 7th 2009

Hey everyone, I hope you are having a good labor day, did you make sure to take your two fifteens?

I was running a bit late so DJ Next Door managed the show for the first twenty minutes or so. I think my entrance is pretty obvious. I included a link for the video to HEALTH's "Die Slow". I like it. I know it's probably not DJ Next Door's thing, but forget that, it's awesome.

(song - artist - release - label)

Ribbon of Fear - Hornet Leg - Ribbon of Fear- K
Wounded - Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall - Matador
Hooting and Howling - Wild Beasts - Two Dancers - Domino
Smith Hill - Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day - Partisan
Tegucigalpa - Fruits Bats - The Ruminant Band - Sub Pop
Preacher's Sisters Boy - Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer - Sub Pop
Made in a Day - Jupiter One - Shunshower - Rykodisc
Deputy of Love - Don Armando's Second Avenue Band - Ze30 compilation - Strut
Bad Blood - Simian Mobile Disco - Temporary Pleasure
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Starfucker - Jupiter - Badman
Give it Up - Datarock - Red - Nettwerk

False Jesii Pt. 2 - Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans - Sub Pop
The Icy Hands that Guides Is - Lullabye Arkestra - Threats/Worship - Vice
Die Slow - HEALTH - Get Color - Lovepump

Call Me - Reigning Sound - Love & Curses - In the Red
Dream Residue/Work - Polvo - In Prism - Merge
Stay Famous - Cougar - Patriot

More Stars Than There Are in Heaven - Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs - Matador
Luna - Fanfarlo - Reservoir - self released

"Further Complications" - Jarvis Cocker - "Further Complications" - Rough Trade
Potion Approaching - Arctic Monkeys - Humbug - Domino
February - Pterodactyl - Worldwild - Brah
Lightning - Air Waves - Air Waves - Catbird
Silver Amongst the Gold - Grand Archives - Keep in Mind Frankenstein - Sub Pop
Death of Me - Box Elders - Alice & Friends - Goner

Playlist for 8/31/09

Hello all, and welcome back students! Here we are again, another Monday afternoon. We've got some brand new stuff to debut this week so enjoy.

Crying Lightning - Arctic Monkeys - Single - Domino
Fawn Fight - The Delfields - Ogres
Nothing to Hide - Yo La Tango - Popular Songs
Here to Fall - Yo La Tango - Popular Songs

Black River Killer - Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer - Sub Pop
Action/Reaction - Choir of Young Believers - This is for the White in Your Eyes- Ghostly International
Underpass Sunrise - The Bronzed Chorus - I'm the Spring - Hello Sir
We Can Feel It - Cale Parks - To Swift Mars - Polyvinyl

Whole Lot Better - Brendan Benson - My Old Familiar Friend
Wishes - Ducktails - Landscapes
Flaming Arrow - Jupiter One - Sunshower
Moon Dreams - Desolation Wilderness - New Universe - K Records

Friends Since 1989 - BOAT - Setting the Paces
Hole to Feed - Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe - Mute
Move to California - Times New Viking - Born Again Revisited - Matador
Wounded - Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall - Matador
Hands - The Duchess and the Duke - Sunset/Sunrise
Castles in the Air - The Receiver - The Length of Arms - Vital Music

I Hate People - Jemina Pearl - Break It Up - Ecstatic Peace
Belong - Washed Out - Side A
Brake It - The Reigning Sound Love - Love and Curses - In the Red

The Afterlife - YACHT - See Mystery Lights - DFA
You Were Right - Oh No Oh My
At the Cut - Cave Singers - Welcome Joy - Matador
Green River - Real Estate - Fake Blues 7"
Eye Sore - Birds of Avalon - Uncanny Valley - Volcom

August 24th 2009

Hey everyone, we're back! Not too much to report on this week. I went to the Underwater Peoples showcase in Brooklyn this weekend so expect a full report on that on my show this week (Wednesday night, 10p-12a !). Unfortunately, the Blizten Trapper CD we recently got in (and played for you last week) has gone missing/been stolen/misplaced, upsetting DJ Next Door. Boo. Hiss.

(song title - artist - album name - record label)

The Bridge is Broken - The Do - A Mouthful - Get Down
Easy - Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day - Partisan

Share - Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains - self released
Venice Beach - Desolation Wilderness - New Universe - K
What We Know - Sonic Youth - The Eternal - Matador
Over It - Dinosaur Jr - Farm - Jagjaguwar

The Ruminant Band - Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band - Sub Pop
The Fade - Megfaun - Gather, Form, and Fly - Home Tapes
I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine - Sugarplum Fairies - Chinese Leftovers - Starfish
Cover Your Tracks - Blue Roses - Blue Roses - XL

Dizzy From the Fall - Throw Me the Statue - Creaturesque - Secretly Canadian
Keys - Air Waves - Air Waves - Catbird

Treat Me Like Your Mother - Dead Weather - Horehound - Third Man
Call Me - Reigning Sound - Love and Curses - In the Red
Hole in My Head - Box Elders - Alice & Friends - Goner
Psychic City - YACHT - See Mystery Lights - DFA

My Reality - Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall - Matador
Ephemeral Summer - Talbot Tagora - Lessons in the Woods or a City - Hardly Art
Atlas - Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness - Domino
Strawberry Shortcake - Marmoset - Tea Tornado - Joyful Noise
Mighty Minor - Royalchord - The Good Fight - Supply & Demand

Love in July - Sally Shapiro - My Guilty Pleasure - Paper Bag
Chalk Lines - Division Day - Visitation - Dangerbird
Wet Hair - Japandroids - Post-Nothing - Polyvinyl
Do You - Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist - Equal Vision
The Boy and the Tiger - A Society in Which No Tear is Shed is Inconceivably Mediocre - Luaka Bop

We Are Water - HEALTH - Get Color - Lovepump United

Playlist for 8/17/09

Hello all. Once again we are back to rock out your Monday afternoon... or we'll certainly try anyway.

(song-artist-album-label)

Summer of Hate - Crocodiles - Summer of Hate - Fat Possum

Stick Up For Me - The Reigning Sound - Love and Curses - In the Red
Eyesore - Birds of Avalon - Uncanny Valley - Volcom
Beach Town - Le Loup - Family
Tammie - The Do - A Mouthful - Get Down
Mile After Mile - Apple's Acre - Dead Oceans

My Will is Good - Port O'Brien - Threadbare - TBD
Tag - Throw Me the Statue - Creaturesque
The Bachelor - Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor - Nylon
Gems - Air Waves - Air Waves - Catbird
Watch the Waves - Taken by Trees - East of Eden - Rough Trade
Born on a Day the Sun Didn't Rise - Black Moth Super Rainbow - Eating Us
St Tropez -Summer Cats -Songs For Tuesdays - Slumberland

Bren's Pick
Alice & Friends & Death of Me - Box Elders - Alice & Friends - Goner

DJ Nextdoor's Pick
Shoulder Full of You & Preacher's Sister's Boy - Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer - Subpop

When I'm Gone - Vivian Girls - Everything is Wrong - In the Red
Bradley Bear - Holiday Shores - Columbus'd the Whim - Two Syllable
Come With Me - Marmoset - Tea Tornado - Joyful Noise

Die Slow - Health - Get Color - Lovepump
The Boys are Leaving Town - Japandroids - Post-Nothing - Polyvinyl
Molly - Datarock - Red - Nettwerk
It's Boring/You Can Live Anywhere You Want - Yacht - See Mystery Lights - DFA
40 Fingers - Starlight Mints - Change Remains - Barsuk

Cold Spring - Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There are Mountains - Self Released

Playlist for 8/10/09

Hey folks, we're back! We've got a bunch of brand new music goodness headed your way this afternoon so enjoy and stay cool.

(song-artist-album-label

I Never Knew - Birds of Avalon - Uncanny Valley - Volcom

Friday XIII - Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day - Partisan

Games for Days - Julian Plenti - Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper - Matador

Primitive Man - Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band - Sub Pop

Kaufman's Ballad - Megafaun - Gather, Form & Fly - Hometapes

I Want You to Keep Everything - These United States - Everything Touches Everything - United Interests

Beneath Your Tree - Bowerbirds - Upper Air - Dead Oceans

Lightning - Air Waves - Air Waves - Catbird

Half Idiot - Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans - Sub Pop

Replacing the Northwest - Talbot Tagora - Lessons in the Woods or a City - Hardly Art

Primary Colours - The Horrors - Primary Colours - XL

Young Hearts Spark Fire - Japandroids - Post-Nothing - Polyvinyl

The Home - Portugal the Man - The Satanic Satanist - Equal Vision

DJ Nextdoor's Pick

Thickets & Vulture - Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor - Nylon

Bren's Pick

The Afterlife & Psychich City - Yacht - See Mystery Lights - DFA

Waving at the Shore - Throw Me the Statue - Creaturesque

Gloomy Monday Morning - The Black Hollies - single

That's All - Zeus - Sounds Like Zeus - Arts & Crafts

The Bridge is Broken - The Do - A Mouthful - Get Down

Don't Know Till You Try - The Postmarks - Memoirs at the End of the World - Unfiltered

Siamese - Wye Oak - The Knot - Merge

Until the Night is Over - Timber Timbre - Timber Timbre - Arts & Crafts

Long Walks - The Lovely Feathers - Fantasy of the Lot - Sparks Music