Reunited 90’s alternative-noise powerhouse Dinosaur Jr. have posted yet another preview of their new album Beyond. “Been There All The Time,” along with the recently posted “Almost Ready” are two ultra solid songs that show the band has hardly lost a step in all those years apart.
Malajube was easily one of my highlights from CMJ ‘06. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who had similar feelings. The buzz around the band has followed them since those performances, resulting in two sold out nights at the Mercury Lounge. It’s pretty clear that the next time in town they will be heading down Houston to the Bowery Ballroom, but for now, they had to prove they could handle all that hype.
Surprisingly though, a band who I thought was rather unspectacular at the Fader party during CMJ ‘06, Snowden, ending up almost stealing the show from them. Snowden, who released Anti-Anti (Jade Tree) last year was simply on point throughout with their keyboard infused and sonically engrossing post-punk. I’ve heard the live show far surpasses their studio work but they definitely made a fan that night.
I am not saying I didn’t totally enjoy Malajube’s set. The band’s set was just less energetic then back in the fall. It seemed like they are somewhat tired of playing stuff from their last album Trompe L’Oeil (Dare To Care) and I sensed much more energy when they were engaging in some heavier, instrumental fair. They were good, not great. Fun, but not fantastic.
(photo courtesy of thepolicetour.com)
I know this news may have already reached it’s saturation point. It’s been blogged about by cooler people all over this internet box, discussed on morning talk shows, promoted on Q104 commercials, and there’s even a full article about it in today’s ny times. But I fucking love The Police, and now it’s my turn.
I always thought I was born 20 years too late, and The Police is one of the reasons. I was 15 when I finally fell in love. I had heard their songs a thousand times before, but it wasn’t until then that I finally listened. The bass lines, the frenetic drumming, the high-pitched boy singing about messages in bottles and prostitutes and being the omega man–I wished (and prayed) that I lived in 1982. But the year 2000 was quite a few years past the zenith of the Police, and by that point the band was just the former biggest band in the world, and nowhere near reuniting. Sting was riding high on his Brand New Day success, scoffing anytime he was asked the requisite question of if the three boys would ever tour again.
After months of talk, Andrew W.K. has confirmed that he will be opening a nightclub in Manhattan in the not-too-distant future. Although the club has no set location or opening date , Mr. W.K. plans to cater to all sorts of patrons; from dirty unkempt rockers to “regular” (meaning, bridge and tunnel?) clubgoers.
The late great Elliott Smith lives on. According to various reports, a two-disc collection of unreleased music from the singer/songwriter will be released this spring. Smith’s original label Kill Rock Stars will release the collection on May 8th.
The two disc collection, which was produced by longtime friend Rob Schnapf, will feature tracks recorded between 1995-1997. Also, a portion of the proceeds from the album will go toward the Portland, Ore. based organization Outside In.
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