Off The Shelf -- Iggy and the Stooges

Iggy and the Stooges - Raw Power
Release Date - February 1973


The seminal summer album; equal parts raw sexuality and angry, rebellious urges. "Raw Power" by Iggy and the Stooges exemplifies youth and passion in the heat of the summertime. All with a early punk, D.I.Y. sound.

This isn't your grandma's summer album, and "Raw Power" isn't for the faint of heart. Iggy's voice rips through the listener like a high speed car chase. He simultaneously gets your adrenaline pumping and scares you half to death. Iggy and his style basically represents the badboy in everyone. You wouldn't take him home to mother, but you are completely infatuated with nonetheless.

The eight song album is only slightly over a half-hour long, but it's perfect for "Raw Power." Perhaps the most famous song, "Search and Destroy" kicks off the album like a bullet out of a gun. It gives the listener a sense of what is to come and pulls them in for more. My personal favorite is "Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell." It's part love song and part a plea to find an accomplice. Looking for something a little lustier? Try the aptly named "Penetration."

"Raw Power" may not be for your family's 4th of July BBQ, but this sexual and scary album from the godfather of punk will definitely keep you up all night.

Mixtapes: Jason Anderson

photo via musicsnobbery

I always wonder what musicians think about themselves and their careers. We as fans obviously see it a certain way, but how do the musicians themselves see it? What does their music mean? How do they see their career? What do they listen to?

In my quest to find out more about the artists I adore I have decided to start "Mixtapes." The goal is to talk to musicians and learn more about them. For the initial post of this I have asked one of my personal favorite artists, Jason Anderson, to answer a few questions.

Here are his answers:

1 -- Who would play you in a movie?

There would and will never be a movie about me. But I would love to be portrayed in muppet form. That would rule.

2 -- What is the craziest thing that has happened to you while on tour/doing a show?

Nothing especially "crazy" except for the "insane" amounts of fun and connection experienced, night after night, town to town.

3 -- What's on rotation on your iPod right now?

Phish, Sun Kil Moon, Propagandhi

4 -- Who inspires you?

My friends, different writers, people who make awesome vegan food.

5 -- Why are you a musician?

The Incans lived by three basic laws: Munay, Llankay, Yachay, which, roughly translated, mean Love, Service (or Practice, Work), Wisdom (that of being in touch with your "authentic" self). I learned about this when I was recently in Peru, and really connect deeply with this idea. I totally love music, therefore I play music for myself (and others), and through this I feel that I am truly "me." Or something like that.

Chester French

Chester French – Love the Future

Release Date – April 21, 2009

Hipster band name, check. Cool album art, check. Catchy title, check. Unfortunately neither this band nor this album are nearly as cool as they look on paper. Chester French’s debut release “Love the Future” seems like it should be so good but it just falls short. Love the Future had so much potential, Chester French was called Harvard’s answer to Vampire Weekend, but sometimes EPs and mix tapes are better than full-length albums.

Some of the songs are downright annoying, especially “Jimmy Choos” – please don’t ever let “ooh” be part of your lyrics. Others such as “Bebe Buell” is crass, but funny; be sure to catch the random high-pitched singer during the chorus (with “oh’s” this time). A couple of songs are good, “Beneath the Veil” and in particular. The rest of the songs are either too similar to each other or are just forgettable.

The retro-pop duo seems to have the same idea that Rooney does. Yet while Rooney keeps that slight innocence that makes their music so good, Chester French seem too raunchy. There was so much hope for this album. So much potential. Sadly, Love the Future proves that sometimes the buzz is better than the band.

Metric - Fantasies

Metric-"Fantasies"
Release Date-April 14, 2009

Metric’s latest album, Fantasies is the band’s first venture in nearly four years. During that time away, it seems they have created a great sound with danceable beats. Fantasies is a perfect album for getting ready and going out on the town. It starts with the song “Help I’m alive” and hooks the listener right in. From there the album only gets better.

Most of the time danceable albums do not often translate into ones that can be listened to over and over again, but Metric seems to have accomplished this as well. The lyrics are impressionable enough to make the listener interested, but it’s the instrumental music that make the album worthwhile. This is especially true in the song, “Twilight Galaxy”, which slows down and really allows the listener to hear what Metric has been working on.

The two best songs on Fantasies have to be “Sick Muse” and “Gold Guns Girls.” “Sick Muse” just mixes everything that’s right with the album into one four minute eargasm. Meanwhile, “Gold Gun Girls” has that great seventies vibe and makes you feel like you should be getting ready to go to a disco. While every song has something good about it, these two are definitely my faves.

Overall, Fantasies is a one of the better albums to come out in 2009 so far. It is sure to be added to the springtime playlists that are blared at stoplights. Maybe you’ll hear it at some barbeque and Metric and their intoxicating album Fantasies will entice you too.

Dance with Metric
http://www.ilovemetric.com
http://www.myspace.com/metricband

The Yeah Yeah Yeah's -- It's Blitz!

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It's Blitz
Release Date: March 31, 2009

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have discovered disco! Their latest work, Its Blitz! was released on April 6 and is definitely a change from their previous two works. Those who love the YYY’s punk influences, be forewarned -- that hard edge has been replaced with dance-beats. Lead singer Karen O seems less like Joan Jett and more like Debbie Harry, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

It’s Blitz! displays O’s voice and range much more than on their earlier works. The usually strong drumbeats take a back seat to the synth driven sound of the album. The first song, “Zero” starts the album off strong and is incredibly catchy. This song makes you want to get up and dance. “Zero” is a sends the message that this album isn’t going to be like anything else the YYY’s have done before. The band has taken a step in a new direction and there is no turning back now.

This seems to be the current trend in music, so watching the YYY’s groove that way isn’t surprising. A personal favorite has to be “Dull Life,” the fifth track on the album. The upbeat vibes and great beat makes the other, less established, songs just fade away. While there are definite weak points, overall It’s Blitz! is pretty good. While it may not be their best work, it’s always nice to see a group, especially one such as the YYY’s, try something new. Listening to It’s Blitz! Brings MGMT and other such bands to mind. The best songs are the ones that mix the YYY’s punkish style with this new wave dance beat.

It’s Blitz! is an album of hits and misses, but it shows where the YYY’s are in their music journey. They haven’t entirely figured out the dance scene yet, but are definitely working towards it. Whether or not they stick to this route has yet to be decided.

Groove with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at these sites:
http://www.yeahyeahyeahs.com
http://www.myspace.com/yeahyeahyeahs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeah_Yeah_Yeahs

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love

The Decemberists: Hazards of Love
Release Date: March 24, 2009

From the mists of Portland comes a band known as The Decemberists; armed with an accordion, organ and Colin Meloy. The unique blend of Meloy’s distinct voice, the humming of the instruments and the literary way of writing lyrics makes them one of the staples of any good music collection. Their latest album, The Hazards of Love, continues the Decemberists journey towards redefining the way stories are told through music.

The Decemberists have attempted this sort of full length story/album combination before, with 2007’s The Crane Wife. That story was based on a Japanese folk-tale, but Hazards is entirely original. It centers around two lovers, Margret and William a shape-shifting forest dweller. Various villains stand in the way between the lovers and bliss. As far as the story goes, it’s not anything spectacular but once paired with the music the two intertwine nicely.

The music itself takes some leaps from the traditional vaudevillian style the Decemberists usually go with. Songs like “The Queen’s Rebuke/The Crossing” sound much harder than usual; while the ballads tend to sound similar to earlier works such as “The Engine Driver.” My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden and Lavender Diamond’s Becky Stark lend their voices to the album, giving the songs more diversity then if it were just Meloy singing.

While songs like “The Rake’s Song” and “Won’t Want For Love (Margret In The Tiaga)” can stand alone, Hazards is meant to be listened to straight through. The way the story threads through the songs and the similarities and nuances throughout the tale are reminiscent of Peter and the Wolf. Listeners can easily sense the impending doom of the lovers and deduce when evil is afoot just by the music. By making the album so involved within itself, Meloy has lost some of the creativity that comes when his stories were confined to one song.

For those who are familiar with the Decemberists, The Hazards of Love is an obvious transition for the band to make and fits nicely into their entire body of work. But, for those who have yet to discover the wonders of earlier Decemberists albums, start with something like Picaresque. Being able to see the band’s progression from such songs as “The Bagman's Gambit” to their latest work makes it all the more enjoyable.

Check out more from the wondrous world of the Decemberists
http://www.decemberists.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedecemberists
http://twitter.com/colinmeloy