Bandcrab

From a superb film about growing older but not growing up comes a superb soundtrack pleasantly stuck in the ’90s. “Young Adult,” the Charlize Theron starrer in which she portrays a teen-steam ghostwriter who lives on Diet Coke and maliciousness, flings us back to the Clinton era with its crunchy, infectious tunes.

Theron’s Mavis road trips to the Replacements, crashes her car to Veruca Salt’s “Seether” and gets loaded with grown-up fanboy Patton Oswalt courtesy of Cracker’s “Low.” Mavis uses these power-chord anthems to escape the garish reality of 21st-century living, but we absorb them with a fond nostalgia.

The “Young Adult” soundtrack was released by Rhino Records.

This faux poster is likely what a cynic would think about our current epidemic of band reunions. He’s having a field day with the Coachella lineup, in which we see the unlikely reunions of punk stalwarts Refused and At The Drive-In, alongside British dandies Pulp and slowcore goddesses Mazzy Star. The cynic would yawn and say that none of these bygone champions of rock could ever recapture their energy circa 1995 at That One Gig in Some Dude’s Living Room.

And we, the optimists, would argue that we don’t WANT these bands to have a 1995 energy. We want these reanimated legends to have a fresh perspective – and whether that means putting out new albums (see recent output from Stone Temple Pilots or Blink-182) or bringing in fresh blood (Sublime with Rome, Smashing Pumpkins), more power to them.

To those who accuse reuniting bands of cash grabs – so what? Don’t go see them in concert, and don’t buy the new records. Lest we forget that musicians are entitled to get paid for their wares, too. Lest we forget that there are plenty of young bucks just getting into, say, the Beach Boys and obviously never got a chance to see them live in the 1960s cos their PARENTS weren’t even born yet.

Because music has never just been about one person. Music is meant to be shared and experienced with the masses of all ages and levels of fandom. So we say keep the reunions coming.

Your move, Talking Heads.

Holy time warp, Batman! This week, not one but two mid-aughts juggernauts with flamboyant front men announced new records for 2012! The above Bloc Party have been working on a followup to 2008’s Intimacy (Wichita) in NYC, despite last year’s alleged hullabaloo in which Kele Okereke was to be replaced. Thank goodness for making amends!

Additionally, Zane Lowe of the BBC landed another Class of 2005 exclusive this week when The Killers’ Brandon Flowers told him his band will have new material out this year. Coincidentally, that group’s last album, Day & Age (Island), was also release in 2008. Steve Lillywhite is slated to produce.

Books! QueenCrab adores them almost as much as music. Nerdy stuff, political stuff, frivolous stuff – it’s all read voraciously. But especially thrilling is when literature and tunes unite. Here are some of our favorite bookish bands:

BELLE & SEBASTIAN

These Glaswegians constantly get pegged with the “twee” title, but what’s so dumbly precious about enjoying the written word? These lads (and lass) are smart, clever and go well with a cup of tea. “Wrapped Up in Books” off 2003’s Dear Catastrophe Waitress (Rough Trade) is the quintessential bookworm homage.

THE DECEMBERISTS

Verbosity is Colin Meloy’s greatest gift to indie rock. Before The Decemberists, had modern kids really known what a palanquin was? You just feel smarter listening to these Portland trailblazers. Our favorite song for this purpose is “The Engine Driver,” (off Picaresque – Kill Rock Stars – which is a term used for satirical novels!) in which Meloy croons, “I am a writer of fiction.” And you’re damn good at it.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE/BEN GIBBARD

It’s likely no coincidence that Death Cab’s Chris Walla produced the aforementioned scholarly Picaresque album – his own band is named for a crime magazine from the 1950s. The quartet’s whip-smart brand of forlorn poetry comes via singer/songwriter Ben Gibbard’s appreciation for prose. In fact, he teamed up with Jay Farrar (Son Volt) in 2009 for an album inspired by Jack Kerouac’s writings. Far out, man. Hear “California Zephyr” above.

THE BOOKS

They’re called the fooking Books. And yes, they dig their lit, deriving material from Lewis Carroll, among many others. We’re thinking “Classy Penguin” is a nod to publishing house Penguin, known for its reissuing of classic stories.

As this year of musical triumphs (Adele proves sisters are still doing it for themselves!) and tribulations (Zooey and Ben broke up!) comes to a close, we here at BandCrab are compiling a list of our New Year’s resolutions. Music edition.

Listen to music like they did in the “olden days.”
Yes, music will always accompany other activities such as surfing the Internet and jogging (another unrelated resolution…), but whatever happened to just unplugging oneself for 45 minutes, just lying back in a comfy place and really listening to an album? Absorbing every timbre and vibration, pondering lyrics and feeling it wash over you. These days, it’s rare for music to truly get under one’s skin. Let’s let it warm us to the bones. Invite your friends over and crank up the victrola. Or iPod. Whatever works.

Never miss Smashing Pumpkins in concert when they’re in Los Angeles
We found this one out the hard way earlier this year when they played the Wiltern. We’d rested on our laurels, assuming we’d get press passes since QueenCrab was once on the band’s payroll. No dice. So we’d figure we could sit this one out. Until many of our close pals who attended raved that rarities like the aptly named “Pissant” were on the setlist. D’oh!

Which leads to …

Go to more shows as “just a fan”
Being in the music journalism industry, you quickly become accustomed to preferential treatment. Front row at a Green Day concert? Go right ahead. Free tickets to South by Southwest? All yours. But then when something like the Pumpkins scenario happens (which we don’t blame them or their PR team for, no worries), we realize just how NOT special we are. And that puts things in perspective, because after all, we got into this business because WE ARE MUSIC FANS, first and foremost.

So no more expectations. No more procrastinating on purchasing concert tickets because we automatically assume press peeps are gonna hook a sister up. Because the live experience, especially with friends in the cheap seats, is priceless.

Buy directly from the artists as often as possible.
iTunes and Amazon (and those creaky old brick-and-mortar stores) have made shopping for music super convenient and cost-efficient, but the fact remains that the artists see pennies to the dollar on those purchases. (If the songs are purchased at all, you illegal downloading fiends, you!) The best way to support your favorite bands is to buy their stuff off their websites or at shows. We’re all feeling the pinch on our wallets these days, but musicians have had a particularly tough time. Keep ‘em well fed, and they’ll return the favor by rockin’ harder.

Give no-name, emerging and local artists a chance.
Los Angeles is very guilty of this. We have a bajillion venues here that foster local and upcoming talent… but no one ever goes to these shows. It’s sometimes a wonder that native groups like Foster the People ever “made it” with such a difficult audience out here – when every Tom, Dick and Harry is in a band themselves, but no one goes to see one another’s shows. We’re definitely culpable of this atrocity, too, so we’re going to put our money where our mouths are and try to venture out to our friends’ gigs more often.

Also, we’re going to sincerely try to listen to every new sound that cracks through our inboxes. Because the nameless troubadour we toss aside today could be the Conor Oberst of tomorrow, and we’ll be kicking ourselves we didn’t get on board sooner.

What are your musical New Year’s resolutions? Let us know in the comments. Party on, Wayne, and have a great 2012.

Sure, the sanctity of holiday music is pretty much squelched as department stores start busting out this piped-in merriment as early as August. But there’s something undeniably magical about this genre. Even grizzled punks and grumpy old protesters get in on the act. In the spirit of the season, here are the BandCrab top 5 holiday songs:


Mariah Carey – “All I Want For Christmas Is You”
The coquettish diva is at her absolute best here. From the second those chimes start ringing, our hearts dance. One fun holiday tradition is getting a group of friends together to sing this song and dare each other to hit that high note at the end. Laughs aplenty.


Paul McCartney and Wings – “Wonderful Christmastime”
For some reason, this often is voted one of the most reviled holiday tunes. Maybe it’s the incessant New Wave sound effects that makes this the aural version of an ugly sweater. Some like it ironically, but we love it unabashedly. Macca Christmas, everyone!


Adam Sandler – “The Chanukah Song”
As the former “SNL” actor laments, there aren’t too many Chanukah songs out there for modern audiences. But this one takes the cake (latke?). More pop-culture encyclopaedic than a “Weird Al” Yankovic tune, this one never fails to make us giggle. For even more comedy, try Neil Diamond’s all-too literal cartoon version.


Smashing Pumpkins – “Christmastime”
Probably one of the unlikeliest groups to ever release a holiday song – let alone one so warm and fuzzy – the Pumpkins piled on the sentimentality for this one. It always reminds me of that one fateful Christmas I got Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and listened to it on repeat all day.


Bing Crosby and David Bowie – “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy”
This song shouldn’t have worked. The man who fell to Earth dueting with Mr. Christmas himself? Talk about an odd couple. But this offbeat mash-up is absolutely spellbinding.

“Bad Babysitter” rapper Princess Superstar is giving big-ups to Blitzen and his crew with an original holiday tune, “Xmas Swagger.” Aglow in a seasonal sweater, the artist also known as Concetta Kirschner flows about traditions like charades and pumpkin pie (oh, and Chippendale’s dancers, too).

The song is available at iTunes, but those who donated* to her PledgeMusic fund will get the track for free in the next few days. The campaign, an ongoing fundraiser for her upcoming The New Evolution album, is still accepting donations. In turn, fans can purchase prizes as innocuous as a signed CD ($15) up to a $10,000 private burlesque striptease. Now, wouldn’t that be a special holiday gift…

*Full disclosure: I donated $50 last year and got a phone call/rap lesson with the Princess. It was a fun, unforgettable experience.

Image courtesy Vagrant Records

So most music sites are fully mired in reminiscing over 2011’s offerings, but at BandCrab, we’re looking ahead. Here’s a track that’s bound to be on a bunch of 2012 best-ofs. The uppity synth serenity of School of Seven Bells rings triumphantly in “The Night,” the lead track off their upcoming third album, Ghostory (Vagrant/Ghostly International).

Though down a member after singer Alejandra Deheza’s twin sister, Claudia, departed in 2010, the current duo (also manned by Benjamin Curtis) upped the ante with this nine-song collection that centers on the ethereal protagonist Lafaye – a manifestation of Deheza’s own “ghosts” of her past. Ghostory comes out February 28, 2012

Listen to “The Night” below and download it now to brag to all your friends that you loved this song way before they did.

School of Seven Bells – The Night by Vagrant Records

Not gonna lie – with QueenCrab’s personal life the wonky way it was this year, good ol’ BandCrab got a bit sidelined. But never fear! We still have our annual best-of list to present! Agreed? Disagree? Let us know in the comments!

BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Bright Eyes – The People’s Key
Who knew that spiritual pondering about ancient lizard people could be so beautiful?
BEST EP OF THE YEAR: Armistice – S/T
Fey femme vox over Mexcellent trumpeting. Gorgeous.
BEST REISSUE: Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Billy Corgan’s best just got better with a new DVD of a classic 1993 concert.
MORE ADDICTIVE THAN CRACK! (aka best song of the year): Bright Eyes – Shell Games
Here it comes: that brand of heavy love only Conor Oberst could perfect.
MORE ANNOYING THAN CARROT TOP (aka worst song of the year): Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks*
Notice the asterisk. This is actually a decent song, but it was on EVERY.DAMN.STATION. 24 hours a day. Also, it is NOT a cheerful dance song, people. It’s about Columbine.
BEST SURPRISINGLY GOOD ALBUM: Cake – Showroom of Compassion
Though the hooks weren’t as hooky as past records, this one showed their greatest range.
BEST ALBUM NO ONE HEARD: Hunx and His Punx – Too Young To Be in Love
Who knew the best girl group in ages would be fronted by a gay man?
CRITICS’ FAVORITE ALBUM TO JACK OFF TO: Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
Animal Collective didn’t release anything in 2011 – it was a slow year for music snobs, so they went total ironic.
BEST REASON TO RAID YOUR PARENTS’ CD COLLECTION: Rolling Stones – Some Girls reissue
It’s better than test-driving SuperHeavy, right?
BEST REASON TO RAID YOUR YOUNGER SIBLING’S CD COLLECTION, THEN DESTROY IT: Justin Bieber – Under the Mistletoe
Jesus just called. He says Christmas is canceled.
BEST MUSIC VIDEO: The Black Keys – Lonely Boy
Derrick Tuggle for president.
BEST LYRICS: “I was dressed in white, touched by something pure/Death obsessed like a teenager/Sold my tortured youth, piss and vinegar/I’m still angry with no reason to be.” (Bright Eyes – Shell Games)
The young grump grows up poetically.
BEST (CHEEKY) LYRICS: “I work out!” (LMFAO – Sexy and I Know It)
Don’t fight the allure of this guilty pleasure. You’ll lose.
THE “DON’T TELL MY COOL HIPSTER FRIENDS I LIKE THIS ALBUM” AWARD: “Weird Al” Yankovic – Alpocalypse
He does a better impression of Lady Gaga than Lady Gaga does.
THE “DON’T TELL MY COOL HIPSTER FRIENDS I LIKE THIS SONG” AWARD: Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall
Seriously, how emo can you get? I smell a “40 Year Old Virgin” joke in here.
BEST LIVE ACT: Flogging Molly
Raise a pint of Guinness to these working-class heroes!
BEST EMERGING BAND: Sunken Ships
I got this discarded CD after a Pistol Beauty gig and fell in love at first listen to these sensitive rockers.
BEST EMERGING ARTIST: Gin
Gravely-voiced earworm alert from New Zealand!
BEST COMEBACK: Pulp
Jarvis rejoined his Common People for a stellar secret Glastonbury set
LEAST WELCOMED COMEBACK: The Strokes
Thought Julian Casablancas couldn’t get any more jaded? Then Angles happened.
THE “OMG I WANNA HAVE YOUR BABIES” AWARD (MALE): Conor Oberst
If you’re surprised by now, you don’t know me at all.
THE “OMG I WANNA ADOPT A BABY WITH YOU” AWARD (FEMALE): Madeline Follin
Cults’ button-cute singer is swoon-worthy.
THE “HUH, ACTORS CAN SING” AWARD: Jeff Bridges
The Dude finally put out an album this year. We abide.
THE “OH, WAIT, I TAKE THAT BACK. ACTORS CAN’T SING” AWARD: Mike Tyson
“The Hangover 2″ was already wretched enough without the boxer bellowing “One Night in Bankok.”
MUSIC-RELATED AWESOMENESS I”M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2012: New albums from Garbage, Smashing Pumpkins, No Doubt and Sigur Ros; Radiohead likely headlining Coachella; Paul McCartney plausibly writing the London Olympics theme

Does anybody remember laughter? Tough to recall in these bleak hours of Occupy Everything, Europe’s economy becoming a vacuum and Justin Bieber putting out a Christmas album. (Oh how the gods weep!) But tucked in a little rock ‘n’ roll alcove in the City of Angels, the denizens wore something that stoics and the freewheeling would both question: smiles. Shit-eating, candy-coated grins as though the go-go ‘90s never ended.

What was that ringing in their ears? Power chords! What an endangered species in this diminished minor world! Ironically, this joyful noise was imported, like so many commodities assaulting American capitalism. Made in Japan, punk-frock trio Shonen Knife commemorated its 30th anniversary at the unassuming Echo club and absolutely illuminated the dank box with its Hello Kitty brand of rebellion.

Read more at PopMatters!