annnnnd I'm back.... // Pinback Viking Union 10/23

I'd like to start off with my apologies, I've been really busy the past few months, and I'm just starting to get back into the swing of things going back to school and getting to some concerts here in Bellingham and in Seattle.

I spent the summer traveling around and went to China, which was definitely a really cool and interesting experience. Now I'm back, and I hope to update anytime I get out to a show, or occasionally when I hear something that I absolutely have to post about.

In early October I got out to see the National in Seattle at the Showbox, and although this isn't a formal review, I will say that the band did not disappoint. They were absolutely amazing and played an awesome setlist including most of my favorites from Alligator, along with much of their new album. If you have the chance, I definitely recommend seeing this band. No matter what.

Now for last night's concert:

I must say, I was pretty excited to get out and see a band that I have enjoyed since high school. Pinback's melodic flow and subtle lyrics was something that I could listen to anytime; studying, driving, or with friends. That being said, I was a little skeptical of how that might translate into a live performance. Needless to say those worries were warranted. Last night at the show I remember remarking to my girlfriend midway through their set that it sounded more like Pinback karaoke than their actual music.

Their lead singers often came off as cliche and forced, and actually sounded like they were trying to mimic the effects produced on the record. That being said, the composition of the songs was still there, and the instrumental parts came off quite well. In sum aside from the kitschy vocals the show sounded pretty good musically.

One of my favorite (older) Pinback Tracks [too bad they didn't play it, it would have been awesome]:

Pinback - Starfish

The next time you hear from me will most likely be after the Minus the Bear concert which rolls around to my campus on November 9th-- I'm pretty excited.

Bayani

Drop whatever you are doing on June 12th, and go to your local indie record store and buy this album. And if they don't have it in stock, recommend that they get it ASAP (and cop it here instead), because not only is "Bayani" the most important album to come out of the northwest, I'm going to venture to say that this is the single most important hip hop album to be released in the last 10 to 15 years, and it will remain that way for a while. It's already gone through pre-release at their most current shows, and is sending shock waves throughout the northwest, attaining good reviews from every publication that has touched it.

This effort is much more focused and structured than their previous releases (a debut LP and EP), spanning relevant issues ranging from individual relationships, to colonialism, the plight of the proletariat, and even the WTO riots in Seattle circa 1999. After repeat listens it quickly becomes apparent that the beats and the rhymes are inseparably intertwined on this disc-- it would be unimaginable for one to exist without the other. This symbiotic relationship produces some great songs, and DJ Sabzi integrates some pretty sick samples into the tracks, often blending in live and ethnic instrumentation into his beats. I can't say enough about this album, and I've only had it for about a week now, so be sure and get your own copy when it comes out, hopefully this track can hold you over in the meantime--it's one of my favorites, and a great example of the synergy created by Sabzi's beats and MC Geologic's lyrics.

Blue Scholars - 'Loyalty'

I'm heading out to Sasquatch! tomorrow, and I couldn't be more excited, of course I'll be posting about what goes down this weekend upon my safe return. Have a happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Fields

This album came out just last week, and I've been listening to it quite a bit recently. Fields is a new band from Britian (luckily one that isn't new rave/disco), and they use a lot of acustic gituar, which really works for them (most of the time). This is definately a debut album worth checking out.

Here are two songs from their album "Everything Last Winter"
'If You Fail We All Fail"
"Song for the Fields"

Buy it at amazon.