Owner: Can you see the sunset from the southside? URL:http://www.canyouseethesunset.com Join Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 11:52:17 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: A Chicago-based music and MP3 blog featuring daily posts with the best and newest in punk, indie rock, electronica, hip-hop, alt-country, metal, and more. Site statistics:Click here
Clearing the proverbial bases 2007-05-16 02:55:00 A week or so ago Everything Last Winter from Fields arrived in my mailbox. What looked to be an ordinary compact disc has turned out to be a quite a nice surprise. After a few listens, I'm a little disappointed that I won't be able to catch the band tomorrow night at Chicago's Empty Bottle. I do (however) suggest that you head out to one of my favorite venues tomorrow (Wednesday, 5/16) night to check out this British/Icelandic quartet that takes what might be simple folk-rock songs and add gorgeous male/female vocal harmonies and huge swells of fuzzed-out atmospheric guitars to the mix. I quite like it, but I'm a sucker for noise. Many folks have commented that Everything Last Winter is a dark album but I just don't hear it. The melodies are shimmering, the backbeat is driving, and there may be some minor key rockin' going on, but its not full of doom and gloom. There are lovely and quiet acoustic moments, but (as with most good noisy bands) Fields isn't afraid to get the Read more:bases
, Clearing
Mama your boys will find a home 2007-05-15 04:03:00 So the new Wilco album Sky Blue Sky comes out on Tuesday (that's tomorrow for those who are still asleep) and I expect that all of you will be making a stop to pick up a copy. I'll see you there.A few weeks ago I had a brief conversation with Ryan from the (Wilco-inspired) Muzzle of Bees blog and we both agreed that initially neither of us was really all that impressed with Sky Blue Sky and its warm 70's rock sound. We both commented that while the bands sounds tighter and more together than ever, most of the songs don't have those "reel you in" hooks that much (ok all) of Jeff Tweedy and Wilco's previous material had.I'm not sure about Ryan, but I have had a change of heart. After listening to Sky Blue Sky a number of times since then, I've come to the conclusion that it might be the biggest leap forward that Wilco has made yet. It is an subtly adventurous album that eschews many of the alt-country and pop-rock tendencies that made Wilco the band we all love. They throw so
O sweet child of mine 2007-05-14 14:03:00 This is a video of my daughter yesterday and it is pretty funny. She is just over one-and-a-half, but note the tone of her voice when she says "hey." Then watch her expression after she says "punk." Then watch her in destructive action as she knocks a toy car off the ottoman. She thinks its pretty "funny." I can't stop laughing. Read more:child
Boatless booze cruise tonight 2007-05-19 03:00:00 Chicagoan Chris McCaughan has been a staple in bands around Chicago for as long as I can remember. He's done time in bands like Tricky Dick, The Broadways, and (currently) The Lawrence Arms, but has recently released his first solo album as Sundowner. Instead of gruff and melodic punk rock, Sundowner spits fire in a much quieter way. Armed with only his voice, an acoustic guitar, and a little help from some friends, Chris bares his soul and exorcises his demons. The album is called Four One Five Two and its rough-but-charming folk-rock is perfect for late nights with friends and reminiscing about the good old days. There is a distinct feeling of longing that weaves its way throughout the album's twelve songs and although Chris doesn't have the strongest voice he's honest, poetic, and utterly captivating. Like a cross between Blake Schwarzenbach and Bob Dylan, he's something of an urban folk troubadour and (to me at least) his songs sound just like Chicago at night. You can c
Small red lights shining in the blackness 2007-05-25 21:07:00 The Shapes We Make is Mary Timony's fourth solo album since she spent time in indie rockers Helium. It is (overall) a dark and moody record that oftentimes sounds like a back alley drug deal between Sebadoh and Sleater-Kinney. A proggy post-rock wet dream. Timony's husky and Kim Gordon-esqe alto pipes are well-suited for the baroque and downright medieval tone that permeates through much of the album. I love the frolicking guitar melodies and the lilting bass, but it is the rock solid polyrhythmic drumming of Devin Ocampo that really anchors Timony's unusual and off kilter tunes.I was actually all set to write this, but as I kept listening to The Shapes We Make I kept liking it more and more. I kept picturing the European countryside littered with drum kits and Marshall stacks with dragons flying overhead. That just proves I'm a little crazy, but (seriously) this is really a great and (surprisingly) warm album that really rocks (but only slightly). The Shapes We Make is out Read more:Small
Heimdalsgate like a promethean curse 2007-05-29 07:00:00 For some reason I've never given the Athens, GA band Of Montreal much of a listen. I don't really know why but I never did. But a month or two ago my wife Amy started going on and on about just how great the new Of Montreal album is. I was like "Yeah, whatever," but she was persistent about it. Fast forward to last week and she finally corners me and tells me I need to listen to the album and write about it and blah, blah, blah. So I listened to it. Wow.The album was blessed with the ridiculously long and pretentious-sounding title Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? but is so freakin' irresistible that it doesn't matter. On it Of Montreal kicks out twelve songs of indie-disco post-punk-funk jams that blew me away but not before being lodged deep inside my cranium. I mean what band has song titles that include the words Kongsvinger, Heimdalsgate, and Gronlandic?Rump-shakin' beats knock around with hyperactive synthesizers and Kevin Barnes' sometimes shrill falsetto to
Meat and potatoes for dinner tonight 2007-05-28 19:42:00 Meat And Potatoes is one of the country's finest design firms. They've done design work for Cabo Wabo Tequila, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and just about every major record label you can name. Well, what happens when designers of this caliber decide to venture into the realm of fashion? You get t-shirts. Not just any old "designer" tees, but (rather) hand-screened VERY limited edition t-shirts that come packaged in (you guessed it) a shrink wrapped Styrofoam carton or wrapped in deli paper like they were straight from the butcher shop. The packages also include hand-numbered art prints of the images on the shirt so that your walls don't feel slighted. The coolest part of the whole deal (well, aside from the killer shirts) is that a portion of every shirt you buy goes to Meals on Wheels so you can feel good about what you're wearing. These shirts are like Threadless tees but way cooler and way more limited. Get your Meat & Potatoes t-shirts here. They are excellent.
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