After I made a mix for J.G.'s brother a few months ago, their mom heard it and liked it, "The Ice Of Boston" in particular, and to my surprise, requested that I make a CD for her too. So now pretty much that whole family has mix CDs from me. She's pretty open minded for her age, but then, my taste is pretty classic rock-oriented when it comes to even newer rock music, so it wasn't too hard for me to make it accessible for her, and I included a lot of the same artists from John's mix, although mostly different songs. I think it came out pretty well. The Michael Bublé track was one that J.G. asked me to grab off iTunes and include, but that song is actually kinda growin' on me.

1. Ted Leo/Pharmacists - "Timorous Me"
2. Apollo Sunshine - "Today Is The Day"
3. The B-52's - "Private Idaho"
4. The Dismemberment Plan - "The Ice Of Boston"
5. The Posies - "Conversations"
6. Elliott Smith - "Angeles"
7. The Who - "5'15"
8. Spymob - "Walking Under Green Leaves"
9. John Mellencamp - "Cherry Bomb"
10. Ben Folds Five - "Philosophy
11. Talking Heads - "Thank You For Sending Me An Angel"
12. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - "High Fidelity"
13. They Might Be Giants - "Don't Let's Start"
14. Rufus Wainwright - "April Fools"
15. Brendan Benson - "What I'm Looking For"
16. Chris Lee - "Lonesome Eyes"
17. Private Eleanor - "On Our Side"
18. Randy Newman - "Baltimore"
19. Michael Bublé - "Home"
20. Jeff Buckley - "Satisfied Mind"

Labels: Apollo Sunshine, Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Chris Lee, Dismemberment Plan, Elvis Costello, mixtapes, mp3, Spymob, Ted Leo, The B-52's, The Posies, The Who, They Might Be Giants

Jon Auer - "Sundown" (mp3)
I might've been a little rough on Songs from the Year of Our Demise, which came out this week, in my Stylus review, considering how big a fan of the guy I am. I just wish the album had more songs as good as this one.

Note: In light of the end of Stylus in 2007, I decided to archive the text of all my reviews for the site on this blog for posterity, since I don't what the future holds for the Stylus domain, and have included both the letter grade ratting that accompanied the original review, and an adjusted rating that I would give the record now in retrospect.

Jon Auer
Songs from the Year of Our Demise
Pattern 25
2006
Stylus rating: B-
Adjusted rating by reviewer: B

Songs from the Year of Our Demise is a document of a tumultuous period in Jon Auer's life that included a divorce and the beginning of another marriage. However, it would be difficult to pinpoint exactly what year the title refers to, considering how long it’s been in the works. The title has been floating around since 1999, shortly after Auer's group The Posies broke up and he and co-founder Ken Stringfellow embarked on solo careers. In the time that it's taken Auer to finish his first solo album, Stringfellow released three, and the Posies reunited and recorded a new record, last year's Every Kind of Light. Also during that period, Auer contributed to Big Star's In Space and, oddly enough, William Shatner's Has Been. So Songs from the Year of Our Demise has a lot riding on it, if only to justify its lengthy gestation period and repeated delays.

Auer has always seemed blessed with natural, almost effortless gifts as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His voice is so clean and angelic that it sometimes sounds feminine, and as the more instrumentally skilled half of the Posies' nucleus, he handled most of the guitar solos, and even played drums on the band's early material. So after several albums as only 50% of a creative team, the chance for him to step out on his own seems like the perfect opportunity to thrive. But while Demise is a deeply personal work that shows the fruits of several years of recording, it's far from Auer's greatest achievement.

Now in his late 30's, Auer's voice is still in top form, but has taken on a deeper, slightly gravelly tone, which suits the depressive tone of the material. His gift for writing big power-pop hooks is similarly subdued, as he sticks to slower tempos and quieter arrangements. In short, it's his singer-songwriter record.

But without the hooks, energy, or jaw-dropping guitar solos, an air of blandness hangs over Demise that only a handful of songs cut through. And for better or worse, most of those songs are buried at the end of the disc. "Sundown" practically erupts with a thudding bassline, poignant melody, and naggingly catchy "sha la la la" chorus. And "Wicked World" is one of only a couple songs where Auer strips the arrangement down to just his voice and an acoustic guitar to showcase a hauntingly gorgeous melody. Meanwhile, most tracks, like the dramatic opener "Six Feet Under," contribute to the overall mood of the album, but hardly stand up as songs by themselves.

Auer wrote and discarded many songs in the process of making Demise, releasing several EPs along the way. Ironically, few songs on the album have hooks as memorable as "When the Lights Go Up" or "Beautiful" from 2002's Private Sides. Luckily, the best song from 2000's The Perfect Size, "You Used to Drive Me Around," is reprised in re-recorded form on Demise. Now fleshed out to an epic seven minutes, with ornate touches like David Einmo's chorus mellotron, and live drums replacing the early version's plodding drum machine, "You Used to Drive Me Around" becomes the album's hardest rocking song, though it never rises above a brooding mid-tempo.

Songs from the Year of Our Demise initially seems underwhelming, but like the Posies' best work, its songs reveal themselves over time. Still, it's an album that has far more potential for emotional resonance than musical discovery. The arrangements contain few surprises, and the handful of simple acoustic performances quietly outshine the more elaborate productions. There's no doubt that Auer put a lot of feeling into Demise, but if he takes this long to formulate his next album, hopefully he'll spend more time honing his musical ingenuity, and throw a few of his fantastic guitar solos in as well.

Reviewed by: Al Shipley
Reviewed on: 2006-05-04

Labels: mp3, some shit I wrote, Stylus, The Posies

This is a mix I made for Joey O. a couple months ago when I hung out with him up in Philly:

1. Henrietta Collins and the Wife Beating Child Haters - "Drive By Shooting"
2. Apollo Sunshine - "Phoney Marony"
3. Spymob - "On Pilot Mountain"
4. The Sands - "House Of Golden Proportions" (demo)
5. Ruth Ruth - "Jerome"
6. The Oranges Band - "Atmosphere"
7. System Of A Down - "Attack"
8. John Mellencamp - "Love And Happiness"
9. Travis Morrison - "The Word Cop"
10. The Roots - "Push Up Ya Lighter"
11. Freeway and Beanie Sigel - "Philly Niggas"
12. Gwen Stefani f/ Ludacris - "Luxurious" (Zone 4 Remix)
13. DJ Chris J. - "I'm Rich Bitch"
14. Prince - "Shockadelica"
15. They Might Be Giants - "Am I Awake"
16. Sloan - "The Good In Everyone"
17. Frank Black - "Freedom Rock"
18. Ted Leo/Pharmacists - "Come Baby Come"
19. Little Feat - "Strawberry Flats"
20. The Posies - "That Don't Fly"
21. Bruce Springsteen - "Candy's Room"
22. R.E.M. - "Time After Time Etc. (Live Medley: Time After Time/Red Rain/So. Central Rain)"
23. Steely Dan - "Barrytown"

Labels: Apollo Sunshine, Baltimore music, Bruce Springsteen, Chris Lee, mixtapes, Prince, Sloan, Spymob, Steely Dan, Ted Leo, The Posies, They Might Be Giants, Travis Morrison

Tru Life/Green Lantern/DJ Kay Slay - New New York: The Movement
Grand Buffet presents A Night Of Laughin'! Volume 1
Ken Stringfellow & WaFlash - EP
Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Sharkbite Sessions EP
Apollo Sunshine - The Other Side Of The World EP
Ruth Ruth - The Little Death EP
Lake Trout - There Are No Words EP
Cex - Know Doubt EP
UnReal - Real Talk Volume 1
Architects Recording Studio & DJ Radio/Streetsweepers present Street Radio Volume 2.5

Labels: Apollo Sunshine, Baltimore music, Grand Buffet, hip hop, In My Stereo, Ted Leo, The Posies

Albums:
1. T.I. - King
2. Prince - 3121
3. Jon Auer - Songs From The Year Of Our Demise
4. Donald Fagen - Morph The Cat
5. Jaheim - Ghetto Classics
6. Remy Ma - There's Something About Remy
7. Little Clayway - Still Movin' Independently
8. various artists - Unruly Club Classics Vol. III
9. B.G. - The Heart Of Tha Streetz, Vol. 2 (I Am What I Am)
10. Juvenile - Reality Check

Singles:
1. DJ Khaled f/ Paul Wall, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Rick Ross and Pitbull - "Holla At Me Baby"
2. Toni Braxton - "Take This Ring"
3. T.I. - "What You Know"
4. Foo Fighters - "No Way Back"
5. B.G. f/ Mannie Fresh - "Move Around"
6. Remy Ma - "Conceited"
7. Jamie Foxx f/ Ludacris - "Unpredictable"
8. Ray Cash f/ Scarface - "Bumpin' My Music"
9. Heather Headley - "In My Mind"
10. E-40 f/ Keak Da Sneak - "Tell Me When To Go"
11. All-American Rejects - "Move Along"
12. Lil Wayne - "Hustler Musik"
13. Prince - "Black Sweat"
14. Chamillionaire f/ Krayzie Bone - "Ridin'"
15. Kelly Clarkson - "Walk Away"
16. Chris Brown - "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)"
17. Daddy Yankee - "Rompe"
18. Lil Kim - "Woah"
19. Fall Out Boy - "A Little Less 16 Candles, A Little More 'Touch Me'"
20. Twista f/ Pitbull - "Hit The Floor"
21. Pussycat Dolls f/ Will.I.Am - "Beep"
22. Cassidy - "Cassidy Theme"
23. DJ Shadow f/ Keak Da Sneak and Turf Talk - "3 Freaks"
24. Keyshia Cole - "Love"
25. T.I. - “Why You Wanna”
26. Three 6 Mafia - "Poppin' My Collar"
27. Click Five - "Catch Your Wave"
28. Morningwood - "Nth Degree"
29. Donnell Jones f/ Jermaine Dupri - "Better Start Talking"
30. Shawnna - "Gettin' Some"
31. Beyonce f/ Slim Thug and Bun B - "Check On It"
32. Ghostface f/ Ne-Yo - "Like That"
33. Ne-Yo - "So Sick"
34. Notorious B.I.G. f/ Twista, Bone Thugs N Harmony, 8Ball & MJG and Swizz Beatz - "Spit Yo Game" (Remix)
35. Christina Milian f/ Young Jeezy - "Say I"
36. Sean Paul - "Temperature"
37. Teddy Geiger - “Confidence (For You I Will)”
38. The Lox - "Take Everything"
39. Kirk Franklin - "Looking For You"
40. Rihanna - "S.O.S."
41. The Fray - "Over My Head (Cable Car)"
42. Dilated Peoples - "Back Again"
43. KT Tunstall - "Black Horse And The Cherry Tree"
44. Dem Franchize Boyz - "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It"
45. Alicia Keys - "Every Little Bit Hurts"
46. LL Cool J f/ Freeway - "Whatcha Want"
47. Matisyahu - "King Without A Crown"
48. Kelis f/ Too $hort - "Bossy"
49. T-Pain f/ Mike Jones - "I'm N Luv (Wit A Stripper)"
50. Jaheim - "The Chosen One"

Labels: Baltimore music, hip hop, lists, Prince, R and B, Steely Dan, T.I., The Posies

Jon Auer - Songs From The Year Of Our Demise
Bruce Springsteen - Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Mobb Deep/DJ Whoo Kid - G-Unit Radio 17 - Best In The Bizness
Chamillionaire/DJ Smallz - Man On Fire
T.I./DJ Drama - Gangsta Grillz: The Leak
2Pac - All Eyez On Me
Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death
Tyree Colion - The Problem And The Solution
Bosslady presents On Da Grind, Vol. 3
Skarr Akbar/DJ Radio - Da Labotomy: The General Pt. 3

Labels: Baltimore music, Bruce Springsteen, hip hop, In My Stereo, T.I., The Posies

This is a mix CD I made for J.G. a few weeks ago:

1. Apollo Sunshine - "Today Is The Day"
2. Simon & Garfunkel - "Cecilia"
3. Brendan Benson - "The Alternative To Love" (Metarie EP version)
4. The Posies - "21"
5. Spymob - "National Holidays"
6. Superchunk - "Detroit Has A Skyline"
7. The B-52's - "Private Idaho"
8. Chisel - "River High"
9. Soul Coughing - "So Far I Have Not Found The Science"
10. Medications - "This Is The Part We Laugh About"
11. Alicia Keys featuring Adam Levine - "Wild Horses"
12. The Rolling Stones - "Can't You Hear Me Knocking"
13. John Mellencamp - "Cherry Bomb"
14. Travis Morrison - "Any Open Door"
15. Ken Stringfellow - "Any Love (Cassandra Et Lune)"
16. Jeff Buckley - "What Will You Say" (live Mystery White Boy version)
17. Ted Leo - "Bleeding Powers" (solo Tell Balgeary EP version)
18. Randy Newman - "Baltimore"

Labels: Apollo Sunshine, Brendan Benson, mixtapes, Soul Coughing, Spymob, Superchunk, Ted Leo, The B-52's, The Posies, Travis Morrison

Jon Auer's Songs From The Year Of Our Demise might be my most anticipated album of 2006 by virtue of having anticipated it for around 5 years now, while Auer continually promised about it and kept pushing it back to work on albums with The Posies and Big Star and, uh, William Shatner. But I can just about stop holding my breath, because Pattern 25's website has a May release date, cover art, and two mp3's from it. The two songs are kind of initially underwhelming and show Auer maybe headed in the same direction of gooey keyboard ballads as his bandmate Ken Stringfellow's solo albums, but I'm still pretty excited to hear the whole thing soon.

Labels: links, The Posies

That new Strokes album that I have no interest in hearing, and my 9th favorite album of 2005:



By no means identical, I know, but kind of striking nonetheless.

Labels: The Posies

Last month I bought a new computer and for the first time finally have a CD burner. The first CD I burned was a mix that I gave to J.G.'s brother John as a Christmas gift:

1. Fugazi - "Song #1"
2. Medications - "Safe And Sorry"
3. The Dismemberment Plan - "The Ice Of Boston"
4. Apollo Sunshine - "Ghost"
5. Sonic Youth - "Teen Age Riot"
6. Superchunk - "Detroit Has A Skyline"
7. Brendan Benson - "I'm Easy"
8. Private Eleanor - "Estimated Distance"
9. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - "No Action"
10. Spymob - "It Gets Me Going"
11. Bob Dylan - "Simple Twist Of Fate"
12. Jeff Buckley - "Grace"
13. Lake Trout - "Pill"
14. Ted Leo/Pharmacist - "You Always Hate The One You Love" (mp3)
15. The Geraldine Fibbers - "Lilybelle"
16. Bruce Springsteen - "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)"
17. The Posies - "Song #1"

The Ted Leo track was the first thing I ever heard by him, way back in 2000 when I reviewed a crappy indie comp for Pitchfork that it was on, and it slowly had me hooked by the time Tyranny of Distance came out. In a way it's still one of my favorite songs by him and I kinda wish he'd do a whole record like that, solo and lo-fi but still energetic and song-driven.

Labels: Apollo Sunshine, Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Bruce Springsteen, Dischord, Dismemberment Plan, mixtapes, mp3, Sonic Youth, Spymob, Superchunk, Ted Leo, The Geraldine Fibbers, The Posies

This year was my first as a paid critic, and I consumed a lot more new music than is average for me. But still, I feel the same way I do at the end of every year, like I drank from a pretty shallow well of music and probably missed the boat on a lot of stuff. And I also feel like I gave things a lot less repeat listens than I did in other years. There's stuff that isn't on this list that I listened to more times than some things on this list, but usually for review purposes or because it took me a while to figure out it wasn't very good. That's why I can't ever really say with any confidence with it was a good or bad year for music (unless we're talking a very specific scene or genre), and I wonder if even industry people and obsessive downloaders who consume hundreds of albums a year can say so either. But it was a cool year for me, even if I wish there were more revelations on this list and fewer average albums by people who I'll buy anything by. I'd hoped to vote in the Pazz & Jop poll for the first time this year, but I procrastinated too long on trying to get in on it and missed the deadline. Oh well, I'll try again next year.


1. Kanye West - Late Registration

I was following Kanye's production and copping his mixtapes and every single leaked track for so long that by the time The College Dropout finally dropped, I had developed Kanye fatigue and didn't really get to enjoy its phenomenal success, and when I put it at #1 at the end of last year, I did so kind of by default. And I kind of am again this year, as I would've loved for a much different kind of hip hop album to have blown it out of the water for me. But my endorsement of this is much more certain, he really did his thing and let everyone know the first wasn't a fluke. It's still kind of soggy and overlong, but I can say that I actually enjoy it all the way through, skits and all (which I can't say for the long stretch surrounding "School Spirit" on Dropout). There's stuff that still doesn't make sense to me, like "Addiction" or the random Common solo track in the middle of the album, but it all fits together. And the tracks I don't love have something to redeem them, like that bizarre verse in "Celebration" where he talks about how his son is going to be well endowed.

Kanye West - "Roses" (mp3)


2. Apollo Sunshine - Apollo Sunshine

There's something I completely fucking love about what Apollo Sunshine do, and I don't think I got entirely to the bottom of yet. But even with kind of bland, touchy feely lyrics and not a lot to distinguish them aesthetically from a lot of other bearded indie pop bands that I wouldn't give the time of day to, they made an album and played a couple live shows that just completely bowled me over this year. And really, if nothing else, I have to credit the guitar solos. If Elephant 6 bands had solos like that I might give a shit about more of that stuff.

My Stylus review of Apollo Sunshine
Apollo Sunshine - "Eyes" (mp3)


3. System Of A Down - Mezmerize

As tightly concise as the first album but better paced and with just enough goofy Malakian moments to make it more inviting and replayable.

My City Paper review of Mezmerize
System Of A Down - "Sad Statue" (mp3)


4. Rod Lee - Vol. 5: The Official

This is the only album on this list that was also on my best of Baltimore 2005 list, and that's largely because of the far reaching waves it made outside of Baltimore this year. Rod Lee has been one of my favorite Baltimore club music producers for years, and it was real gratifying to see him get his props all over the place. I copped at least a dozen club mixes this year, and while it's a little hard to justify putting one above many similiar ones simply because of better distribution ad visibility, it really is the best sounding (more expensive mastering, maybe?) and best paced.

My Government Names review of Vol. 5: The Official
K.W. Griff - "Good Man" (mp3)


5. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter II

One of the reasons I always procrastinate on these year end albums lists is that there's always 4th quarter hip hop event releases to sneak in there. And I'm about the last person you'll catch getting excited about a Chopped & Screwed CD, but the C&S bonus disc of Wayne's greatest hits is really worth the price tag in and of itself. I don't think there's another rapper and producer I'd rather hear slowed than Wayne and Mannie Fresh. Tom is nuts about thinking that "Shooter" is a potential single or even one of the best songs, though. It's like all the rap songs with the guy from Maroon 5 but not as good.

Lil Wayne - "Hustler Musik" (mp3)


6. Grand Buffet - Five Years Of Fireworks

Noone who watched the SNL "Lazy Sunday" video over and over should be sleeping on Grand Buffet.

My Stylus review of Five Years Of Fireworks
Grand Buffet - "Pink Deadly" (mp3)


7. Beanie Sigel - The B.Coming

I'm kind of hoping that now that he's a free man again he's going to make an album that leaves this one in the dust.

My City Paper review of The B.Coming
Beanie Sigel f/ Freeway and Young Chris - "I Can't Go On This Way" (mp3)


8. Brooke Valentine - Chain Letter

The kind of schitzo R&B album that Missy wishes she made this year.

My City Paper review of Chain Letter
Brooke Valentine f/ Jermaine Dupri - "Playa" (mp3)


9. The Posies - Every Kind Of Light

In my mind, The Posies can almost do no wrong, and while this wasn't the perfect comeback I'd hoped for, they definitely made some worthy additions to their catalog.

My Stylus review of Every Kind Of Light
The Posies - "Second Time Around" (mp3)


10. Black Rob - The Black Rob Report

Like Beanie, this proves I have a weakness for spirited gasps from fading NY rap dynasties.

Black Rob - "Long Live B.R." (mp3)


11. Lil Kim - The Naked Truth

Hell no, it's not a five mic album, but considering that she possesses one of my least favorite voices in rap and I've never been much of a fan, it's a triumph that I'm feeling this. The cover photo really scared me off of copping it for a couple months, even though I loved "Lighters Up." Actually, the real triumph is that I can tolerate an album with multiple Katt "Money Mike" Williams interludes. I'm gonna give Kim the benefit of the doubt that she decided to diss Foxy Brown on a song titled "Quiet" before Foxy announced that she was going deaf.

Lil Kim - "Durty" (mp3)


12. Amerie - Touch

I guess a whole album of "1 Thing" was too much to hope for, but the less bombastic stuff had some surprising staying power.

My Stylus review of Touch
Amerie - "Come With Me" (mp3)


13. Cassidy - I'm A Hustla

"Hotel" will probably always loom over him a little too much to be taken seriously by everyone, and now that he's behind bars his career might be over anyway, but he really did step up and make a hot album, whether anyone wants to admit it.

My Stylus review of I'm A Hustla
Cassidy f/ Swizz Beatz - "Get 'Em" (mp3)


14. Medications - Your Favorite People All In One Place

I have to admit that to me, they're still a surrogate for the superior and short-lived Faraquet, but Rush-meets-Fugazi is not a niche that many other bands are serving, so I'll take what I can get.

My City Paper review of Your Favorite People All In One Place
Medications - "This Is The Part We Laugh About" (mp3)


15. Missy Elliott - The Cookbook

Missy's last two albums were my least favorite to date, her collaborations with Timbaland slowly becoming a dried out husk of what they once were, so I was probably in the minority in being overjoyed that she finally branched out with producers other than Timbo. It still can't touch the earlier albums, but it was a step in the right direction. She really fucked up sales with the singles choices, though. "Teary Eyed" totally bombed and "We Run This" probably will too. It's a crime that "Can't Stop" isn't on the radio right now.

Missy Elliott - "Can't Stop" (mp3)


16. Brendan Benson - The Alternative To Love

He continues to slide into more of the 2nd album's mopery and less of the 1st's giddy rush, but he's getting better at balancing the two.

Brendan Benson - "Between Us" (mp3)


17. The Evens - The Evens

There's something charming about this dinky, scaled down version of Fugazi's already relatively subdued later albums. I kind of have to tune out the parts where he's talking about police and governors, though.

The Evens - "Sara Lee" (mp3)


18. Ebony Eyez - 7 Day Cycle

Maybe I'm still alone in this but seriously, I think the TrackBoyz are the dopest producers in the game right now. It's a shame this album came and went with such little notice.

My City Paper review of 7 Day Cycle
Ebony Eyez - "Good Vibrations" (mp3)


19. Sheek Louch - After Taxes

If people are starved enough for decent New York hip hop that they'll rep for everything the Diplomats do, then I don't really understand why records like this and the Black Rob can be so ignored.

My Stylus review of After Taxes
Sheek Louch - "Intro" (mp3)


20. Petra Haden - Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out

The original The Who Sell Out isn't my favorite Who album by a mile, but it's a perfect choice for a ridiculous project like this. Petra Haden throws herself completely into an a cappella note-for-note cover, even doing the silly interstitial skits and fake commercials and silly voices and fake accents and beatboxing the drum parts. Like Carla Bozulich's reading of Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger, another recent cover of an entire decades-old album by a So-Cal alt-rock chick friend of Mike Watt, it's a completely unnecessary idea that was pulled off with absolute conviction.

Petra Haden - "Heinz Baked Beans" (mp3)

Labels: Apollo Sunshine, Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Dischord, Grand Buffet, hip hop, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, lists, mp3, R and B, The Posies

With links to things I wrote about them at the time on here or Gov't Names or in the City Paper. For the most part I'm only going to name the band I went to see and enjoyed seeing, and if it's more than one than I'll name them in the rough order of who I enjoyed the most, regardless of who opened or headlined.


1. Apollo Sunshine and Lake Trout @ The Ottobar, Baltimore, September 15th


2. Grand Buffet @ The Ottobar, Baltimore, August 16th


3. Karmella's Game @ the Talking Head, Baltimore, April 28th


4. The Posies @ The Black Cat, Washington, D.C., September 26th


5. System Of A Down @ the 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, August 22nd


(photo by Dawn Mercurio)
6. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists @ The Ottobar, November 22nd


7. Bossman, Skarr Akbar, D.O.G., Dirty Hearts and Q @ The Ottobar, Baltimore, October 16th


8. The Travis Morrison Hellfighters @ the Ottobar, Baltimore, February 22nd


9. Dinosaur Jr. @ the 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., July 11th


10. Noise Against Fascism: To Live And Shave In L.A., Mirror/Dash, Magik Markers, Nautical Almanac @ the Black Cat, Washington, D.C., January 20th


11. Elvis Costello & the Imposters with Emmylou Harris and Larry Campbell @ Wolf Trap, Virginia, July 31st


12. Grand Buffet @ the Ottobar, Baltimore, March 27th


13. Sonic Youth @ The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, April 15th


14. Apollo Sunshine and Lake Trout @ the Ottobar, Baltimore, April 23rd


15. Ogun, Ammo, Profound, Tyree Colion and Diablo @ Club 429, Baltimore, August 9th


16. Our Lady Peace @ The 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., September 22nd


17. Private Eleanor @ Current Space, Baltimore, August 27th


18. Ted Leo/Pharmacists @ The 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., June 23rd


19. Enon @ the Ottobar, Baltimore, March


20. The Evens @ The G-Spot, Baltimore, May 17th

Labels: Apollo Sunshine, Baltimore music, concerts, Dinosaur Jr., Dischord, Elvis Costello, Enon, Grand Buffet, hip hop, lists, Sonic Youth, Ted Leo, The Posies, Travis Morrison

top ten:

1. Twista f/ Pitbull - "Hit The Floor"
2. Notorious B.I.G. f/ Twista and Bone Thugs N Harmony - "Spit Your Game"
3. Beyonce f/ Slim Thug - "Check On It"
4. Johnny Cash - "Boy Named Sue"
5. The Posies - "That Don't Fly"
6. Tim Trees - "We Don't Love 'Em" aka "Wayne Jones"
7. Jay-Z - "It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)"
8. Ebony Eyez - "Good Vibrations"
9. Styles P. f/ Akon - "Can U Believe It"
10. R. Kelly - "Trapped In The Closet (Chapter 8)"

Labels: Baltimore music, hip hop, Jay-Z, lists, R and B, R. Kelly, The Posies

Albums:

1. Kanye West - Late Registration
2. System Of A Down - Mezmerize
3. Rod Lee - Vol. 5: The Official
4. Apollo Sunshine - Apollo Sunshine
5. Beanie Sigel - The B. Coming
6. Grand Buffet - Five Years Of Fireworks
7. Brooke Valentine - Chain Letter
8. The Posies - Every Kind Of Light
9. Medications - All Your Favorite People In One Place
10. Bossman - Law & Order

11. Missy Elliott - The Cookbook
12. Brendan Benson - The Alternative To Love
13. Amerie - Touch
14. Cassidy - I'm A Hustla
15. The Evens - The Evens
16. Lake Trout - Not You, Them
17. Fat Joe - All Or Nothing
18. Scott Amendola Band - Believe
19. DJ K-Swift - Club Queen Vol. 6: The Return
20. Enon - Lost Marbles And Exploded Evidence

Singles:

1. Kelly Clarkson - "Since U Been Gone"
2. Amerie - "1 Thing"
3. The Game f/ 50 Cent- "Hate It Or Love It"
4. My Chemical Romance - "Helena"
5. Three 6 Mafia f/ Young Buck and 8Ball & MJG - "Stay Fly"
6. R. Kelly - "Trapped In The Closet
7. Mariah Carey - "We Belong Together"
8. Cassidy - "I'm A Hustla"
9. Ying Yang Twins - "Wait (The Whisper Song)"
10. Lil Kim - "Lighters Up"

11. Natasha Bedingfield - "These Words"
12. Toni Braxton - "Take This Ring"
13. Lil Mo - "Dem Boyz"
14. System Of A Down - "B.Y.O.B."
15. Vivian Green - "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave (Tired)"
16. Ludacris f/ Bobby Valentino - "Pimpin' All Over The World"
17. David Banner - "Play"
18. Juelz Santana - "Mic Check 1, 2"
19. Shakira f/ Alejandro Sanz - "La Tortura"
20. Kanye West f/ Adam Levine of Maroon 5 - "Heard 'Em Say"

21. Mariah Carey - "Shake It Off"
22. Bobby Valentino f/ Lil Wayne - "Tell Me"
23. Tweet - "Turn Da Lights Off"
24. Will Smith - "Switch"
25. Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz f/ Usher and Ludacris - "Lovers & Friends"
26. Young Jeezy f/ Akon - "Soul Survivor"
27. Snoop Dogg w/ Justin Timberlake and Charlie Wilson - "Signs"
28. Omarion - "Touch"
29. John Legend - "Ordinary People"
30. Boyz N Da Hood - "Dem Boyz"

31. Toby Keith - "As Good As I Once Was"
32. B.G. f/ Homebwoi - "Where Da At"
33. Destiny's Child - "Girl"
34. Tony Yayo f/ G-Unit - "I Know You Don't Love Me"
35. Nivea f/ Lil Jon and the Youngbloodz - "Okay"
36. Webbie f/ Bun B - "Give Me That"
37. Kanye West - "Diamonds"
38. Lee Ann Womack - "I May Hate Myself In The Morning"
39. Bobby Valentino - "Slow Down"
40. Rihanna - "Pon De Replay"

41. Common f/ The Last Poets - "The Corner"
42. The Killers - "Mr. Brightside"
43. R. Kelly - "Sex In The Kitchen"
44. T.I. - "ASAP"
45. Missy Elliott f/ Ciara and Fatman Scoop - "Lose Control"
46. U2 - "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"
47. Tyra - "Country Boy"
48. Remy Ma f/ Swizz Beatz- "Whateva"
49. Gwen Stefani - "Cool"
50. Ebony Eyez - "In Ya Face"

51. 112 - "U Already Know"
52. Gucci Mane f/ Young Jeezy - "Icy"
53. Juvenile f/ Wacko - "Sets Go Up"
54. T.I. - "U Don't Know Me"
55. Dem Franchize Boyz f/ Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat and Bow Wow - "I Think They Like Me (So So Def Remix)"
56. Bow Wow f/ Ciara - "Like You"
57. U2 - "City Of Blinding Lights"
58. Big & Rich - "The Big Time"
59. Foo Fighters - "Best Of You"
60. Ludacris - "#1 Spot"

61. Kelly Osbourne - "One Word"
62. Snoop Dogg - "Ups & Downs"
63. Fat Joe - "So Much More"
64. The Killers - "All The Things I've Done"
65. Papa Roach - "Scars"
66. T.I. f/ P$C and Lil Scrappy - "I'm A King"
67. Kanye West f/ Jamie Foxx - "Gold Digger"
68. Alan Jackson - "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues"
69. Marque Houston - "All Because Of You"
70. Trick Daddy f/ Cee-Lo and Lil Kim - "Sugar"

71. 3 Doors Down - "Let Me Go"
72. Fantasia - "Free Yourself"
73. Cam'ron f/ Kanye West - "Down & Out"
74. Paul Wall - "Sittin' Sidewayz"
75. Common - "Go!"
76. Tony Yayo f/ 50 Cent - "So Seductive"
77. Damien Marley - "Welcome To Jamrock"
78. Foxy Brown f/ Sizzla - "Come Fly With Me"
79. Amerie - "Talkin' About"
80. Cassidy - "B-Boy Stance"

81. Good Charlotte - "I Just Wanna Live"
82. Ne-Yo f/ Peedi Crakk - "Stay"
83. Audioslave - "Be Yourself"
84. Dierks Bentley - "Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do"
85. Shania Twain - "I Ain't No Quitter"
86. Nine Inch Nails - "The Hand That Feeds"
87. Hot Hot Heat - "Middle Of Nowhere"
88. Foo Fighters - "D.O.A."
89. J-Kwon f/ Petey Pablo and Ebony Eyez - "Get XXX'd"
90. Young Jeezy f/ Mannie Fresh - "And Then What"

91. Brad Paisley - "Alcohol"
92. 50 Cent f/ Mobb Deep - "Outta Control (Remix)"
93. Backstreet Boys - "Incomplete"
94. Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz f/ Bohagon - "Get Crunk"
95. Kelly Clarkson - "Behind These Hazel Eyes"
96. Mars Volta - "The Widow"
97. Toni Braxton - "Please"
98. Sawyer Brown - "Mission Temple Fireworks Stand"
99. Hot Apple Pie - "Hillbillies"
100. Weezer - "Perfect Situation"

Labels: Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Dischord, Grand Buffet, hip hop, Kanye West, lists, R and B, The Posies

The Posies @ the Black Cat, Washington, D.C. 9/26/05
Definite Door / Please Return It / Second Time Around / Ontario / Throwaway / Everybody Is A Fucking Liar / I Guess You're Right / Start A Life / Precious Moments / Conversations / Dream All Day / Grant Hart / Flavor Of The Month / Solar Sister / encore: It's Great To Be Here Again / Love Letter Boxes / Apology / You're The Beautiful One

On Monday night, after I got out of my night class, I raced down to D.C. to see maybe one of my favorite bands ever. I didn't become fully obsessed with the Posies until after they broke up in the late 90's, so I never saw them live during their original run. But they keep coming back and doing tours together, so I've gotten to see them twice now in some reunited form, and I always get geeked out about it. There's a kind of faded glory to what they do now, a couple of guys in their late 30's, playing mostly songs they wrote over a decade ago to half full rooms in smaller venues than they played at the time. But they're still a pretty formidable live act and a lot of fun to watch. Jon Auer is a chubby guitar god who could pass for Antonio Banderas's brother, and throws his guitar in mid-air constantly, even during solos. And Ken Stringfellow is constantly jumping around and spitting, sometimes whipping his head back and hocking phlegm three feet above his head and then catching it in his mouth.

The first time I saw them live was about 4 years ago, when Jon and Ken had just started playing with a new rhythm section, Matt and Darius, who are still playing with them on their current album and tour. I remember at the time, I was a little unnerved by Darius's drumming, since he didn't really emulate the parts on the original studio versions of the songs, and I loved the playing of both of the Posies' 2 previous drummers. So if he didn't play the same fills the same way they did, it kind of ruined the song for me in some small, nitpicky way. But this time, it sounded like he'd really studied the old studio albums and picked up the essence of the songs, which made the show, in my eyes, a lot better than the last one.

I'd seen a few setlists from this tour already on the internet, so I kinda knew what to expect for the song selection. But there were a few surprises I wasn't expecting, and I enjoyed the large amount of songs from Amazing Disgrace, probably my favorite album. Their new album, Every Kind Of Light, has continued to grow on me since I reviewed it, so I wouldn't have minded if they'd played more than 4 songs from it, but 3 of them happened to be my favorite songs on the album, so I was happy with that. "Start A Life" and "You're The Beautiful One" were great songs to hear live, but I kinda wish they weren't still playing over the drum loops from the versions on Success and came up with different live arrangements.

Towards the end of the set, with little warning, Jon and Ken threw their mic stands down in front of the stage and jumped down to perform "Dream All Day" and "Grant Hart" down on the floor in the middle of the crowd. It was kind of a mess and someone's mic kept feeding back, but it was still pretty cool. Jon even threw his guitar up so high at one point that it bounced off the ceiling. After the show, I checked out the merch table, and the only CD they had for sale that I don't already own was one of Jon's side projects, so I bought it and a poster, and I shook Jon Auer's hand and he called me "bro". I don't get real nervous or excited about meeting musicians anymore, but that was kind of a surreal moment.

Labels: concerts, The Posies

top ten:

1. Bob Seger - "Her Strut"
2. Missy Elliott - "Can't Stop"
3. The Posies - "I Guess You're Right"
4. Huli Shallone - "Makin' Moves"
5. Paula Campbell - "Lighters Up" remix
6. Lake Trout - "Pill"
7. Medications - "Pills"
8. System Of A Down - "Violent Pornography"
9. Cassidy - "C-Bonics"
10. Brendan Benson - "Between Us"

Labels: Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Dischord, hip hop, R and B, The Posies

top ten:

1. Ludacris/Rare Essence - "Pimpin' All Over The World" (Go-Go Remix)
2. Fatman Scoop - "Pon De Remix"
3. Ammo - "Gully Musick"
4. The Posies - "Second Time Around"
5. Elton John - "The Bitch Is Back"
6. Rx Bandits - "Decrescendo"
7. Lil Kim - "Lighters Up"
8. 112 f/ Three 6 Mafia - "Closing The Club"
9. Elvis Costello & The Imposters - "Country Darkness"
10. Rolling Stones - "Wild Horses"

Labels: Baltimore music, Elvis Costello, hip hop, lists, R and B, The Posies

Posies review in Stylus today. The last time a review of mine ran in Stylus, I griped here that the rating they gave it was not the one I submitted with the review, because I hadn't been told yet about their new policy. Now, the editor reads the review and gives it a rating based on what the writer says about the album, and a rating that's consistent with their rating system. Which is fine with me, because I was never sure I really had a handle on how to rate things there, and I don't really like to rate things either. Especially since I end up getting really neurotic about whether I'm consistent with my ratings and I don't, say, rating something really high that ends up not even in my top 10 at the end of the year. Stylus hasn't put anything up on the site yet as a disclaimer that the reviewers aren't deciding the ratings anymore, but just bear that in mind from now on. And though I'm fine with that policy, if I disagree with the rating, I probably will mention it here from time to time (I probably would've given this one the same rating they did, as it happens).

Not having to give it a rating really did help me finish this review, though, it was a tough one for me. In the 7 years since the Posies last released an album, they made the transition from a band I liked to one of my favorite bands ever. And on first listen, Every Kind Of Light was a pretty big disappointment. But it's quickly grown on me, and though I still think it's pretty flawed and inconsistent, I may end up thinking pretty highly of it.

Note: In light of the end of Stylus in 2007, I decided to archive the text of all my reviews for the site on this blog for posterity, since I don't what the future holds for the Stylus domain, and have included both the letter grade ratting that accompanied the original review, and an adjusted rating that I would give the record now in retrospect.

The Posies
Every Kind Of Light
Rykodisc
2005
Stylus rating: B-
Adjusted rating by reviewer: B

The Posies broke up in 1998, and have been backtracking and reneging on that promise ever since. They decided to call it a day after being dropped from Geffen, following a modest run as alt-rock also-rans that never managed to capitalize on being a Seattle band in the early 90’s, despite having signed a major label deal well before the grunge explosion. So they wrapped things up with a prolonged round of farewell tours, and one last album, Success, which was surprisingly cohesive for a thrown together collection of new recordings of rarities and unreleased old songs. But founders John Auer and Ken Stringfellow couldn’t keep away from each other, and in their seven-year breakup, never went even two years without performing together.

Since the Posies’ failed attempt at breaking up, Auer and Stringfellow have toured several times as an acoustic duo and as the full electric quartet, and released two live albums, a box set of rarities, and an EP of new material. With all this posthumous activity, it’s unsurprising that the Posies are now officially back together with their sixth album of new material. After being kicked back down to indie level post-Geffen, they’ve now resurfaced on Rykodisc, who have wrapped Every Kind Of Light in that cozy green-tinted jewel case usually associated with their prestigious reissues, almost as an acknowledgement that the Posies’ continued existence is itself a blast from the past.

On previous albums, Auer and Stringfellow split lead vocal and songwriting duties 50/50, alternating songs in album running orders and concert setlists. But on Every Kind Of Light, for the first time, the songwriting credits are shared by the whole band, including the new rhythm section, drummer Darius Minwalla and bassist Matt Harris. And Auer’s voice dominates the material, singing lead on 6 of the first 7 tracks. It’s a welcome shift of the spotlight, though, since Auer’s solo debut has been delayed time and time again and is now due in 2006, while Stringfellow has released 3 solo albums already. And Auer in turn delivers most of Every Kind Of Light’s standouts, including the single “Conversations.”

Ken Stringfellow’s songs on Every Kind Of Light reflect the keyboard-driven direction of his recent solo work more than his previous output with the Posies, who rarely strayed from guitar/bass/drums arrangements. On “Could He Treat You Better?” he attempts bluesy soul for the kind of ill-fitting genre pastiche that dominated last year’s solo effort Soft Commands. “That Don’t Fly” is a piano ballad much like a dozen others he’s written in the last few years, but also among the best of them, wherein Stringfellow, who recently moved to France, parallels his separation from America with the breakup of a relationship. The political undertones of the album aren’t always so subtle or elegant, though, and the cringe-inducing “Sweethearts Of Rodeo Drive” is full of hamfisted wordplay like “the black CNN has gone all HSN” and “paper or plastic body bags,” along with bizarre namechecks of Adrien Brody and Shaquille O’Neal.

Though the Posies’ last releases of original material, 1998’s Success and the 2001 EP Nice Cheekbones and a Ph.D., emphasized quiet acoustic material, Every Kind Of Light features some of the band’s heaviest fuzzbox action since the Don Fleming-produced thump of 1993’s Frosting On The Beater. Several songs, including “All In A Day’s Work” and the silly, upbeat “I Finally Found A Jungle I Like!!!” turn up the amps as loud as ever. But only “Second Time Around” combines those high volumes with the tremendous hooks of the band’s power pop roots, resulting in a track that ranks up there with “Solar Sister” as the Posies at their best. Truth be told, though, the band’s connections to power pop were always a little overstated, their songwriting too baroque and melancholy to really belong alongside all those bands aping The Raspberries. But “Love Comes” is perhaps the sunniest power pop tune The Posies have ever written, bouncy, bright and full of harmonies and jangly guitar leads.

Every Kind Of Light presents a wider variety of sounds and moods than any previous Posies album, thanks largely to a couple of lighthearted tunes, and a greater presence of keyboards than ever before. But most of these deviations from the classic Posies sound also account for the album’s weakest or most awkward moments. Still, consistency has never really been the Posies’ strong suit, and their latest has only a slightly spottier ratio of hits to misses than their best albums. And if that playful experimentation is what it takes to give the Posies a shot in the arm and make this more than a one-off reunion, so be it, because Every Kind Of Light provides ample evidence that there’s still plenty of mileage in the chemistry between the band’s songwriters.

Reviewed by: Al Shipley
Reviewed on: 2005-08-02

Labels: some shit I wrote, Stylus, The Posies

in my stereo:

The Posies - Every Kind Of Light
Missy Elliott - The Cookbook
R. Kelly - TP3: Reloaded
Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge
Skarr Akbar - Streetsweepers presents Show Me Your Soul: The General Pt. 2 hosted by DJ Radio
Sloan - A Sides Win: Singles 1992-2005
Scott Amendola Band - Believe
Various Artists - XXX: State of the Union - Music From the Motion Picture
mixes from plum drank

Labels: Baltimore music, In My Stereo, R and B, R. Kelly, Sloan, The Posies

in my stereo:

System of a Down - Mezmerize
K-Swift - Club Queen Vol. 6: The Return
Young Gunz - Brothers From Another
Karmella's Game - What He Doesn't Know Won't Hurt Him EP
B Rich - 80 Dimes
The Posies - Dear 23
The Mercury Program - A Data Learn The Language
The Nels Cline Singers - Instrumentals
Beauty Pill - The Unsustainable Lifestyle
Brendan Benson - One Mississippi

Labels: Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Dischord, hip hop, In My Stereo, Nels Cline, The Posies