The Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be

"Oh go-oh-ohd how did i get here, i do not know, I just woke up at this strange show, This woman's clearly out of her mind, She's covered in shit and high as a kite, La la la la la, la la la la la la la la la la, la la la"

Cali-grown Dum Dum Girls release a noise-pop gem with I Will Be.  "Baby Don't Go" sings like a runaway note written for a loved one, explaining why she has to go, but wants you to stay and wait for her; it also makes for the perfect closer to the album, and a perfect opener to my review. (forgive me if I didn't use the semi-colon correctly, I'm a high school drop. ADUHHH)  With the radio and mtv churning out it's usual bile that gets pawned off as music, one should hope that DDG find a way to be heard.  Echoing melodramatic guitars, simple yet precise drumming, and a little bit of german will have you hooked like a delicious bass.  "Jail La La La" can potentially take over the world with its humorous and catchy lyrics, I envision DDG going to Japan and having a Runaways style riot on their hands. Its the kind of music any hipster dad would hope for his daughter to find in his record collection and become their favorite band. (Yes, margot, i'm talking to you!) Favorite Tracks - "Yours Alone," "Jail La La La," "Baby Don't Go"

Fans of - The Best Coast, Beach House, Cadence Fox (great girl band), being to cool for school, and talented woman.

The Chariot - Long Live

"They cannot escape, one if by land, two if by sea, i saved my money, but it can't save me."

Dissapointed I know you are! Chariot lead singer Josh Scogin explodes repeatedly to end the first song "Evan Perks" on Long Live, but I have know I idea what he's talking about because this album is anything but disappointing.  A ten song half hour dose of NO-XPLODE in music form, I'm doing overhead tricep extensions with my PC console as i type this.  not really. but really. not really.  Furious guitars, flame-thrower drumming, devasting growls, chants, and a little spoken word poetry for good measure.  The one flaw in the album, is at the end of Calvin Makenzie when they sample a 50's style radio jingle that ruins one of the better breakdowns on the cd, it has no business on anywhere near the album, and felt forced and weird for the sake of weird. ok enough about the 4 bad seconds of this cd, because thats it.  The band had some sort of contest on their myspace blog, that promised a prize for the 5 listeners to have songs on this album named after them, which explains the titles "Evan Perks, Andy Sundwall, Calvin Makenzie, David De La Hoz, and Robert Rios; imagine your favorite band naming a song after you, thats so legit. The music video for "David De La Hoz" is as fair as I know, the actual one take live recording that is on the album,that takes you on a journey of the studio while the chaos erupts, mustard stands by idly, creepers creep creepily reading creepy poetry with mustaches and drums everywhere.  (link at the bottom of the page.) "The City" calls for a revolution as Scogins panicked screams beseeches listeners to "stand hand in hand, and walk without fear;" while on "Andy Sundwall," cries "WE'VE GROWN BORED OF YOUR WAYS, WE WANT MORE," and once you've finished listening to this album you'll be joining me in exclaiming " LONG LIVE THE CHARIOT!"
Favorite Tracks - "The City," "Andy Sundwall," "David De La Hoz," and "Evan Perks"

For Fans Of - Norma Jean ( ADUUH! Poor Schmity) Maylene and Sons of Disaster (not really), Heavy Heavy Low Low (prior to that toxic shock BS), Revolutions (minus the industrial revolution of course) and Parenthesis (  .  )(  .  ) <---boobs.

Video for David De La Hoz.

Japandroids - No Singles

"My love is bigger than your love, my band is better than your band, my songs are better than your songs, we've got my songs than a song convention, and we're all going straight to hell"

Although the music on this album was originally released in 2007 and 2008 as two seperate eps, the combination of the two was released in 2010. I had not previously had to absolute pleasure of indulging in this Canadian bred duo's spastic and inventive style of rock and roll prior to today, boy howdy am I happy to have them in my life. The self-recorded eps are split with Lullaby Death Jams being the first 5 tracks and All Lies finishing the LP resulting in a fist-pumping, hip-rocking, and at times chill provoking good time. The bands timing and chord progressions matched with witty lyrics, and unique dueling vocals give Japandroids their it factor, and  they do it well.  The bullet-train paced "Lover/Strangers" must cause complete chaos at live shows due to its physics defying riffage and yelping vocals.  "To Hell With Good Intentions"  is a ravenous account of the bands vanity, that boasts of drug use, and large fathers.  I was originally under the impression that this was their latest album, so i guess i'm going to have to go get 2009's Post Nothing to get the latest taste of the Japandroids. Favorite Tracks - "To Hell with Good INtentions," "Couture Suicide," and "Lover/Strangers."

For Fans of - Neon Blonde, Cadence Fox, Team Sleep, Sweet,  nipple twisters, and slam dancing.

Adam Haworth Stephens - We Live on Cliffs

"Oh no this living ain't for the faint of heart, oh no this living is just a dying art"

Adam Haworth Stephens takes a departure from Saddle-Creek records' folk rock duo Two Gallants, to remind us that we live on cliffs, and everyday we fall. As a huge Two Gallants fan, i've been waiting impatiently for a follow-up to 2007's self-titled album. A far decent from the gallants, Stephen's much more expiremental solo project still features his raspy yet angelic vocals, but not over finger picked acoustic guitars, harmonicas, and gallant-mate Tyson Vogel's manic yet precise drumming. The solo project embraces a more modern electric feel than the gallants.  "City's That You've Burned," was the first song to really stood out to me on the album, the song has a great escalating tone causing you to tap your foot to the tension, only to end with a smile inducing strings, and piano mini jam.  "Angelina" is Stephen's furthest departure from his prior music, as he journey's into the genre that many have tried but most have failed to produce anything substantial or even tolerable for that matter...... Calypso! An island themed chorus has Stephen's lamenting of a past  love by the name of Angelina, who apparently has become somewhat of a laugh-stock in his life.  The album ends with a throat knotting ballad, "Everyday I Fall" that has Stephen's confessing "the center of your heart, thats where I was bound, and if I ever get there, I'm sure i'd have turned around."  We Live on Cliffs is a solid spin-off, but it merely made me hungry for the gallants, so until that day comes, this will do. Favorite Tracks - The Cities That You Burned, Everday I Fall, The Elderwoods and Praise Your Name.

For Fans of - Two Gallants (poor schmitty, ADUHH!) fun., clapping your hands, old english towns w/ troubadours on every corner, and the little mermaid (just the "under the sea" song.)

No Age - Everything In Between

""Thoughts are looming, I've been wondering, When is it my turn to get a win, Everyone is out to get you again, But I want you back underneath my skin"

  No Age keep the streak of incredible music from 2010 alive, with their genre blending mystery house of an album "Everything In Between."  Every song on EIB stands on its own as a story, feeling, thought, or memory, but the album has an incredible pace and flow to it that makes the record such a musically intoxicating experience. From the disconsolate and paranoid first single "Glitter" to the thunderous yet dreary "Sorts" EIB is an album that is a pure glass cage of emotion. There was an instance while listening to "Glitter" that the vocals expanded back into the song, and  i was caught so off guard that I was jolted  and felt like a stranger was looming behind me whispering the lyrics into my ear. The song after Glitter on the album is 4 minute riot anthem just waiting to be added a sundance soundtrack. "Shred and Transcend" does exactly what it boasts as leaves behind any and everyone that attempts to call themselves their musical peers.  Theres so much going on throughout the album, and i just don't have enough similes and metaphors to do the album justice, so how about just a small list of adjectives that describe some of my favorite parts of:  Tokyo at dawn (ok one last metaphor), echoing, marching, twinkling, sonic, youthful, thrusting.   Favorite tracks - "Fever Dreaming" "Glitter," "Shred and Transcend" and "Valley Hump Cash."

For Fans of - Sonic Youth, Harlem,Owls (band and animal),  Donnie Darko, and  flannel (shirts not sheets, flannel sheets are itchy, and this album is more of a back scratch to calm your itch caused by horrible music.)

PS:  Here's my last.fm account if you want to check out what i've been listening to, and maybe even friend me!!
http://www.last.fm/user/StromileDaBeast

Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

"Take my hand and pray with me, My final days in company, The devil now has come for me, And helicopters circling the scene"


  A bipolar orgy of musical fusion that ranges from sound sampling, and saxophone solos, to leisurely relaxing guitars, and twinkling keys resulting in Deerhunter's fourth full length album "Halcyon Digest."  The album has that sort of ugly beauty that mainstream America can't and won't ever be able appreciate.  Revival is a 2 minute euphoric dream with echoing vocals and classical guitar.  The album feels like a fine wine, and is getting better the more i listen to it. I'm just not sure, if its going to be installed into my musical rotation long enough for me to ever fully understand or appreciate the entire bottle.  In the mean time though i'm enjoying these few glasses that i've poured myself while trying to understand, and purely enjoy the album.  Overall the record lives up to its thought provoking time while delivering 11 halcyon tracks that can take a while to digest, but it's there. Not every great album is great at first listen, this one is a prime example of that fact.   Favorite Tracks - Revival, Sailing, Helicopter, and Coronado.

For Fans of  - Radiohead, The Dear Hunter, Dear and Headlights, Deerhoof, Deer Tick, The Deer Tracks,  Dear Me Dear You, Wolfmother, Wolf Parade, Seawolf, Deerwolf? people who like writing letters.

The Walkmen - Lisbon

"With my old friends, drunk and lonely, to the end,  how i love'm all, as the days slip by, and they're all following my lead"

          Woe is me. Woe is me. Not only is that the title to one of the songs on the Walkmen's latest and greatest "Lisbon," but it also seems to be the theme of the album. Although at times the vibe, and tone of Lisbon can make you feel alone in world, and nostalgic for heartbreak and loss, once the album is over you can't help but be awestruck with the fact that the music has such an effect on the you.  "While I Shovel Snow" took me on a journey of winter's past, and reminded me that "There's no life, like the snow life."  Swirling guitar riffs, and Hamilton Leithauser's raspy almost bellowing voice are the band's moneymakers, and are produced flawlessly throughout the album. Lisbon was named in tribute to the city in Portugal, but I like to think its named after any great city that someone has left behind, and want  nothing more but to return, and until then they'll have this album to remind them and not let them forget about whats waiting for them, out there, someday. Favorite Tracks - While I Shovel Snow, Angela Surf City,  Victory, Stranded.

For Fans of - Two Gallants, Explosions in the Sky, the Midwest, and nostalgia.

Wavves- King of the Beach

"Green Eyes, I'd runaway with you, Green Eyes, cause i'm a fool. I try running away, i'm just not fast enough, i'm just not man enough"

No seats. I look around the now full train, traveling from Yamato to Yokohama, shrug, press play on my ipod and disappear in wave of  Wavves. "Baby Say Goodbye" pulsed through my ear buds as stared out the window and smiled while thinking to myself This is exactly where i'm suppose to be. ALIENS! STONER CATS! CONVERTIBLE BALLOONS?  King of the Beach is a 12 song beach party from sunset to daybreak. Nathan Williams (band creator / singer/ guitarist/ andy sandberg look-alike) is the self proclaimed King of the Beach and with lyrics like "bill clinton in my head, little clearer through the roof ; little clearer in my head bill clinton through the roof" makes you wonder what he was taking when he wrote this album, and where you can get some. (i know lame cliche line, felt appropriate though) The band's first single and music video of KOTB is "Post Acid" and proclaims "I'm just having fun, WITH YOU!!" (in the video, link below, the "YOU" is a skateboarding, guitar playing alien who beams down for a one day leashfest with our boys of Wavves)  Another band the likes of Harlem that sounds as though they just have fun playing music and would be content in doing so the rest of their lives. So if you're just sittingalone playing ninetendo in your room, maybe take the time to listen to some wavves while you do so, particularly "Convertible Balloon." Favroite Tracks - Green Eyes, Post Acid, King of the Beach, and Convertible Balloon.

For Fans of - Hellogoodbye, Girls (the band and gender), and dancing in speedos while on mushrooms in the middle of any beach anywhere!!!

.King of The BEach - Post Acid (music video)

The National - High Violet

"Your voice is swallowing my soul"
It wasn't my intention to give nothing but good reviews when I started this blog, but i've yet to be disappointed in anything i've listened to so far, and The National's "High Violet" is the best album of them all. (I know it's only the third)  A smart, and dreary masterpiece of ambient guitars, and Matt Beringer's baritone croon has sparked something inside of me that i haven't felt for an album in a very long time. Whether it was reading the lyrics, or closing my eyes getting lost in the wave of musical genius I didn't want to take my headphones off. Echoing choirs, sharp and precise drumbeats, and whimsical perfectly placed string sections construct the framework of the album.  The music video for the single "Bloodbuzz Ohio" is a simple black and white following of Beringer as the video cuts back and fourth between Beringer performing on a small dark stage with a dim spotlight on him as he rocks back and forth with a Sammy Davis Jr. swagger holding on to his dark martini, and Beringer strolling through a park park pondering life.  The album thrives on its subtle and intricate details performed by the two sets of brothers who make up the rest of the band. One of whom studied classical guitar at Yale. This album needs to be enjoyed with a large set of headphones and no distractions.  It is instantly my favorite album of the year, and hope you take the time and indulge in the beauty that is "High Violet." Favorite Tracks - Coversation 16, Sorrow, and Anyone's Ghost.
For Fans of - The Arcade Fire, The Smiths, the feeling in your chest when you encounter a true work of art.

Evelyn Evelyn - Self titled

"Evelyn, Evelyn, why we do we both to stay? Why are you running away?"
The title track to this macabre self titled album "Evelyn Evelyn" opens with the most haunting harmonies I've had the pleasure to listen to.  This concept album tell the story of Evelyn Evelyn conjoined twin sisters, from their grisly birth, to their present day life.  I spent the day listening to the album, and when I wasn't listening to it, I was thinking about it.  The album is entirely tongue and cheek and at times hard to keep listening to due to the graphic story telling.   The twins Evelyn Evelyn live a tragic and tortured exsistence, but remain completely oblivious to the fact that they haven't lived perfectly normal life.  From both their parent's dying minutes after their birth, to being raised as chickens for the the first years of their life, to becoming child prostitutes, to a stint in a circus side show, the girls endure what would surely break a normal person, but the girls remain
unflinchingly content with their situation.  There are three instances on the album in which the tracks are spoken word by Evelyn Evelyn explaining the "Tragic Events" of their lives. Each track is sung as though its part of a musical, and paints a nightmare before christmas-esque portrait for the listener. The album is not entirely depressing, one standout track entitle "My Space" is an ode to social networking sites that the twins discover and inspire them to create the album. The album closes with  Evelyn Evelyn's chilling cover of Joy Division's- "Love Will Tear Us Apart."  The album is not for the faint of heart, but is definitely worth your ear.  Favorite Tracks - Evelyn Evelyn, and Love Will Tear Us Apart.

For Fans of - The Dresden Dolls, Sweeney Todd, Creepy Stuff.

Harlem - Hippies

"Tell your mama, tell your pa, tell everybody you ever saw, i'm coming home and i'm going to be kind of pissed." I dare you not to rock your hips, bob your head, and gimme a little toe tap while you listen to this album. Hailing from Tuscon, AZ but based in Austin, TX Harlem is a rock and/or roll three piece comprised of the coolest kids in the world...well at least thats how I picture them thinking of themselves because they probably are.  The music projects a dorky sort of toughness reminiscent of The Ramones. The album "Harlem" is destined to be played in the background at college hipster parties for years to come, while providing just the right amount surf inspired bass lines, and body rocking drum beats to keep the party moving.  The whole album gives a feel that these guys showed up to the studio plugged in, said "hey press record", played and rolled out. The first time I listened to Hippies (this morning) I was quick to assume that I wasn't going to like the album, and this was just another annoying, pretentious college rock band. I left the album on repeat throughout my entire work day, and constantly found myself doing little jigs at my desk.  Whenever I'd leave my office, I would reenter expecting to see my friends standing around my desk dancing like peanuts characters.  Someday Soon is the album opener, and warns "Someday soon you'll be on fire, and you'll ask me for a glass of water, and ill say "noooo, you can just let that shit burn." Basically saying, IT'S ABOUT TO GO DOWN. The album is timeless and will be enjoyed by young and old. (My 2 1/2 year old daughter wouldn't stop dancing while I listened at home.)  Favorite tracks - Someday Soon, Pissed, Prairie My Heart, and Gay Human Bones.   Harlem knows what they are, and they do it well.

For Fans of: The Shins, Vampire Weekend, The Wonders, and good music.
domo arigato for reading this. DOZO!

This Town Needs Guns

Well today is mother's day, and i woke up with my first japanese alcohol induced hangover. (sorry wife) we hung out with our neighbors from downstairs Ben and Ashlyn. Two bottles of sake later Ben and I decided to go on an adventure. We stumbled through base, and eventually made it out the front gate, and caught a cab to Sagamino train station. there was an AM/PM store there so went stopped in to buy a couple of Chu-Hi s. Chu-Hi's are a fruit flavored alcohol that taste like pop, but eventually knock you on your ass because you don't realize that they're 8% alcohol. ( i know the one i uploaded says 3.5 but mine yesterday were 8.) We ended up going to a Japanese arcade in the Ebina Mall where I proceeded to play the most psycho first person shooting game i've ever played in my life. it was chaos....i think, i dont really remember any details except that I couldn't stop smiling the whole time i was playing because i was in AWE. I felt bad that Ashley didn't come with us so i decided that I'd win her something while i was there. I walked over to a coin machine and put in a 500 yen coin, and out poored tons and tons of little game tokens. i thought it was broken or something because of the volume of tokens that were raining out of the machine. i started cramming all the tokens in my pockets and made my way to a claw machine to try to win ashley a giant "Snuggle" stuffed bear. (the fabric softener bear) Cutler. Aromoshadu. Peppers. Bears. Bears. sorry, i distracted easily when comes to bbbbbbbbbbbbbbeeears. Well i found out that the tokens i purchased didn't work for any of the claw machines, or arcade games, so i basically had to walk around with two pockets filled with usually pochinko tokens. boy was i peeved. we took the train back with bens friend keith and his girlfriend Takako. Takako shared some of her chicken flavored potato chips with us. While on a Japanese train you can be as loud and obnoxious as you want and no one will even flinch. its like riding with wax sculptures. we made it home, and i passed out relatively quickly. i woke up later than i wanted to, but still made ashley a toad in the hole sandwich for breakfast. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

Strange Terrain

I'm typing this as Margot is standing in front of me eating a banana, she's wearing pink hello kitty pjs, she's holding the peel and just took the last bite....sorry shes real cute, and distracting. she's yelling at me now " DAADAA! De yi r(there you are)!" She pounds on the couch and points at me. Well tonight will be our first night in our new home in Japan. I'm not sure how i feel about it..i think i like it, but it doesn't quite feel like home yet, of course not. All of our furniture won't be here until the middle of june, which means i won't see my home fully furnished and decorated until I get back from deployment. I found out we're hitting up the philippines, thailand, australia, hong kong, and malaysia. Its mind boggling to me that i'm going to be able to say that i've been to those places. Any gift requests? I'm pretty sure i'm getting sebastian some Thai kick boxing shorts. Haven't really done any more Japan exploring, but our place is close to the west gate, so perhaps ash and I will explore tomorrow. I've been listening to bon iver and the new cicrva survive cd a lot. What have you been listening to?

Like Puzzles Pieces from the Day.

Woke up today, and jogged to the gym...which isn't as productive as it sounds because its less than a five minute jog, but i jogged nonetheless. I went straight to the basketball court, where i hoped for some morning warriors like myself to be ball'n it up, but alas...an empty gym which might have been even better than having anyone else there. I don;t think i've ever had the chance to ball out on a full court gym by myself like that before, it was the start to a good day. Hoop'd for about 30 minutes, then went upstairs to work my shoulders and back. got sweaty then went back to the hotel room where i was greeted by a giant Margot hug around my legs (those are the best). I decided to walk to work instead of take the bus, tried to figure out some short cuts, it was a little chilly outside. I really didnt do anything at all at work, but sit and wait for a phone to ring that never rang. My Admin Officer, Ensign Brown, returned to work after missing yesterday due to a basketball injury ( he tore his meniscus). He's a funny dude, he was a little doped up from his pain killers, so he was pretty entertaining. " Watch this, bet you didn't know McDonalds delivers here" he chuckles as he hangs up the phone. 20 minutes later i'm told to go downstairs to show the delivery person where our office is. At the bottom of the stairs a there is perturbed asian woman waiting holding McDonald's, " Ensign Brown pleasa." She requests. " Yes, follow me please," i reply. Little did I know that I was escorting Ensign Brown's furious wife/girlfriend (didn't really specify) to her gimpy Boo. She yelled at him for a bit, and stormed away, but not before saying "thank you very much" to me. The Japanese are so well mannered. I got to watch the last minute of DAAAAAAAAAAA BULLLLS victory!! Bulls. After work Ashley and I got tickets for a tour of Mt.Fuji, and the Shiba Sakura festival(thats what the picture above is from) this sunday! So excited. We also stopped by housing, to put our names on the waiting list for a house on base. Base housing i'm told usually takes 2-4 months to get into, so a lot of people end up having to move out in town, but just our luck there was a two bedroom apartment that just opened up, and we're going to be moving in next Friday!!! Wohoo!! Very good day, I'm watching Ponyo with Margot and the wife now. I miss everyone a lot, but I really feel like this is where we're suppose to be right now. Oh yeah...I go out to sea for a month, come home for a week, then leave for another 2 and half, so Ashley and Margot should be home in the middle of June at the latest. Leave me comments if you read this por favor!!

Shaved Head

I shaved my head today. new start. met my command, not sure what I think yet.

Day 1 and 2.1 The Arrival

We walked off the plane to silence, almost the complete opposite of arriving at O'Hare airport, where it's instant chaos and everyone is moving like they're lives are more important than everyone else's. Tokyo= silence. Everyone is walking normally, and almost no one is talking, while soft music plays as we cruise on the moving sidewalk. (Aqueous Transmission) We have no idea where to go, so we follow the baggage sign, and end up at a bus stop that looks like it takes us to another terminal. Ashley and I try to wait patiently, but Margot was running on about two hours of sleep on a 13 hour flight. Margot is raging. Margot tries to in circles in her stroller and face turns from fair to violent red in the blink of an eye. A Japanese stewardess walks up to her and gives her "JAL" airlines sticker, giggles and walks away. Margot throws it on the ground and continues her tirade. Oh well, her loss, I love stickers. We arrive at the next building and see all of our luggage lined up on the floor below us, take the elevator downstairs where we a greeted by two young Japanese women. First impression of Japanese people is that they're extremely kind, and helpful.....well most of them, after we load up all SEVEN bags that we checked onto two separate carts, we make our way through the customs counter, but not before the highlight of day ONE occurs. A Japanese woman walks past me with fury in her eyes, and they're locked onto an oblivious older (like 45 or 50 years old) man. "**$*%&^ OI*&)( !@#$%*" she yells as you starts unloading chops to the man's head and chest. He looks stunned, but doesn't defend himself. After five chops the woman turns and flees the scene. The man turns, and looks forward as if nothing had happened. Somehow Ashley didn't see it.

To be continued.