Album of the Day - Art Brut "Bang Bang Rock and Roll"

I finally listened to the full-length from this British band, and I like them quite a bit more now. Originally, I listened to their EP and the more somber, goth-tinged iLiKETRAiNS right next to each other. Listening to "Bang Bang Rock and Roll," I have a better handle on the unique aspects of their sound.

To begin with, the vocals do not really echo those of iLiKETRAiNS as I previously stated. They are a little bit like Aaron of mewithoutYou or Steve Albini, in that they are kind of spoken rather than sung, but they also veer into a Billy Childish type of sound. The British thing probably makes me think of Childish. But the instrumentation also reminds me more than a little bit of Childish, particularly his work with Thee Headcoats. Both bands have a similar sense of humor. Art Brut's "We Formed a Band" really sounds like it could be a Thee Headcoats song.

I'll definitely keep an eye out for these guys in the future.

Album of the Day - The World I Know: A Tribute to Pegboy

Pegboy is one of the most important punk bands hailing from the Chicago locale. Featuring members punk rock legends Naked Raygun as well as the Effigies and Bhopal Stiffs among others, Pegboy was virtually a punk rock supergroup. Their albums overflowed with passion, brutal honesty and super-charged, anthemic choruses. Larry Damore displayed a penchant for writing unforgettable lyrics that needed to be sung along to.

A tribute album recently came out immortalizing and memorializing this great band. I don't know whether this tribute serves as a eulogy; whenever I hear the band is done, they show up for one more set somewhere. And everytime they decide to show, I do my best to make it out to see them. Last time I saw the band, Damore needed to sit through a couple songs. They were all a little older, some fatter than others. And some, Damore particularly, worse for the wear. Even so, they soldiered on, putting on one of the finest punk rock shows I've ever had the pleasure to witness. Plowing through a song like "Never a Question" would reawaken the young man in Damore, and give him the energy to go crazy for 3-and-a-half more minutes. He spends most of his time with half his body in the crowd, getting spit on by the fans (who are also a little older and a little fatter) who are screaming along with him.

The tribute album includes some gems, some clunkers, like any other tribute album. Some of the highlights are Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio doing an acoustic version of "Field of Darkness" and the Blonde Alibi giving "Sinner Inside" the hardcore treatment. I should disclose that I work with the singer from the Blonde Alibi, so I may be a little biased. I also really enjoyed Haymarket Riot and Vic Bondi, and, even though both of these do nothing more than ape the original, The Story So Far (with Denis from 88 Fingers Louie) and the Dutchmen both turn out performances that tap into the same energy that Pegboy did.

If you are already a fan, I would recommend picking this album up. If you are not a fan, become one. Pick up "Strong Reaction" and the "Fore" EP to begin with, then move through the rest of the catalog. I only lament that you are not likely to have the opportunity to see the band live. But then again, never say never.


1. "Method" - Vic Bondi
2. "Strong Reaction" - Full
3. "Louisiana" - Rollo Tomasi
4. "Mr. Pink" - the Phenoms
5. "Superstar" - Munition
6. "Through My Fingers" - Haymarket Riot
7. "Walk on Bye" - Deminer
8. "Spaghetti Western" - Shot Baker
9. "Planet Porno" - Dreadnok Ripper
10. "Blister" - My Big Beautiful
11. "Locomotivelung" - the Matics
12. "Field of Darkness" - Matt Skiba
13. "Sinner Inside" - the Blonde Alibi
14. "Never A Question" - Bill Henderson (from x ONE WAY x)
15. "Time Again" - Break the Silence
16. "You" - the Invisibles
17. "Still Uneasy" - Nine Lives
18. "Dangermare" - the Littleman Complex
19. "My Youth" - Lynyrd's Innards
20. "Minutes to Hours" - Robotboot vs. What's Missing From Your Life?
21. "Fade Away" - Don't Worry About It
22. "You Fight Like a Little Girl" - the Dutchmen
23. "Hardlight" - Dead Town Revival
24. "Line Up" - the Story So Far

Music of the Day - Art Brut, iLiKETRAiNS and Jesu

I guy at work gave me a CD with a bunch of music. All bands I have never heard of, which is fantastic because I can go into each with a completely open mind. No genres to be biased for or against. Nothing to compare to prematurely. I wish I could approach all music this way.

Art Brut's EP "Emily Rose" has sort of spoken vocals over an arty type of punk rock. It makes me think of the band Catholic Discipline, featured in the documentary "The Decline of Western Civilization," but since I have not seen that since my high school days, the comparison may not be valid. I enjoyed the EP, and look forward to listening to their album "Bang Bang Rock & Roll."

iLiKETRAiNS is similar to Art Brut in the deep, British vocal department, but this vocalist gets a little closer to singing. He reminds me at times of Nick Cave. The music is extremely melancholic; I told my friend at work that I picture the singer looking forlornly out the window of a small apartment into the dreary, rain-battered London streets. The best track is "Terra Nova," which I guess is one of their newer songs. I don't believe the band has ever put out an album; it seems to be all 7" singles and demo cassettes.

Jesu "Silver" EP -- I don't even know how to describe this, but it was my favorite find. It has soft vocals, and walls of sound of guitar and drums and ambient synth. It is a beautiful sounding EP. I had heard that Jesu was a new project form the guy from Godflesh, but I wasn't familiar with that name. Then I looked Jesu up, and saw that it is also the guy from Napalm Death. You wouldn't believe how different this is from the sonic assault that was a Napalm Death song. I cannot wait to listen to this EP again.

Album of the Day - Sufjan Stevens "Seven Swans"

All I have heard of Stevens is the Christmas EPs and when Kyle played Illinois for me, which I really liked, but it was purely background music. This is the first Stevens album to which I have listened with intentionality, and I must say I am underwhelmed. He seems to whisper all of the vocals on the album, which could be great on a couple of songs, but after a while I found myself wishing he could really belt out a couple of lines. It could be that he just isn't that kind of singer, which is fine, I just wouldn't be a fan.

I enjoy the instrumentation just fine, but not enough to make up for the vocals. I'll listen to Illinois again, and see what I think of that this time.

Albums of the past few weeks

DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
This album is phenomenal. It's like Tortoise crossed with Nine Inch Nails crossed with Public Enemy. The avante-garde jazz meshes beautifully with the industrial and hip-hop sounds. Love it.

Eels - Electro-shock Blues
I have hated the Eels ever since I first saw an Eels video, probably back in high school. They were boring, and I hated that the frontman called himself E. Or maybe it was e. Either way, it annoyed me. But this album is pretty fantastic. Cancer for the Cure is my favorite track.

Cash - Unchained
Johnny Cash is the man. I love this album so very much.

Flaming Lips - Oh My Gawd!!!...The Flaming Lips
Weirder than Hear It Is, but still more rock n' roll than I was expecting. I could see myself finally becoming a real fan.

Beck - Odelay
I hated him in high school because of Loser, but I am slowly developing respect for him. A lot of his stuff reminds me of the Blues Explosion, so I can see why they had him remix one of their songs.

Gorilla Biscuits - Start Today and s/t
This is such an amazing hardcore band. I love Quicksand and Rival Shools, but never got into these guys. I wish I had heard this in high school!

I love coming home

When I put the key in the door, I hear my son begin to giggle. I hear my beautiful wife tell him, "Daddy's home!" I open the door, and Aidan runs toward me, laughing, saying "Hi!" in a bright, cheerful voice. He grabs me around the legs, and I lean over to kiss Melanie. Then I bend down and kiss Aidan.

These are beautiful moments.

The last few weeks...

I have yet to reveal the most important things happening in my life. I usually only have a few spare moments to throw together something about what I have recently heard, seen or read. But we have some important, tumultuous, anxiety-inducing, great things happening.

Mel and I last year attempted to move into a better home than we have now. Things didn't work out, and we decided to make the most of what we have. Between November 2005 and February 2006, we had our basement finished in order to add some extra living space to our otherwise crowded 2 bedroom condo. But again I got the bug to move, much to Melanie's "I wish he'd make up his mind" chagrin. I feel our family needs some extra space and though the new family room in our basement is nice (because of it we've been able to have some friends stay at our house for a weekend), condo living does not provide what I would like my son to experience. He loves the outdoors, but somehow 2 feet by 4 feet of grass does not quite cut it. He loves to run around and pound on things, but sharing walls with 3 neighbors precludes any truly jubilant expression of boyhood.

One more thing created in me a renewed desire to move: Melanie and are are expecting our second child. Tentatively due December 24th, this new reason to celebrate has awakened in me a need to give my family a better place to grow and play and learn and love. I cannot imagine keeping two dynamos of energy locked up in a tiny condo.

We just completed a whirlwind weekend rehabbing our kitchen in preparation for putting it up for sale. Crazy that after 5 years of saying "We should really fix up our kitchen," we are finally doing it just to sell it. Last Wednesday we tore out the old cabinets, then Thursday and Friday I laid a new tile floor. Saturday we put up the new cabinets and cut the new countertop, and Sunday we secured the countertop and sink and replaced the vent hood above the stove. The result is a completely new kitchen that looks fantastic. Our hope is we will be able to sell our house more quickly with this remodeled kitchen.

We also hope that we will find an affordable home to buy. If you know the market in the western suburbs of Chicago, you know what we're up against. We've been house-hunting and have seen some houses that are good candidates. We hope either that these homes remain on the market until we list ours or that similar homes come onthe market when we list. Either way, it will take a great deal of prayer and faith to get through this.

So celebrate with us the new life that is forming and pray with us for the future home of our family. Whether we find a new home or not, we know that God's way is better than ours.