Playlist February 26th, 2009

Archers of Loaf - Toast
Pussy Galore - Wait A Minute
Volcano Suns - Promise Me
The Boo Radleys - Upon 9th and Fairchild
Swervedriver - Duel
Unwound - Corpse Pose
Lilys - Overlit Canyon (The Obscured Wingtip Memoir)
Kitchens of Distinction - When In Heaven
Saccharine Trust - A Human Certainty
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - From Her to Eternity
Felt - All the People I Like Are Those That Are Dead
Throwing Muses - Counting Backwards
Devo - Out of Sync
Sonic Youth - Candle
The Teen Idles - Sneakers
Television - Friction
Art Bears - Terrain
Red House Painters - Summer Dress
My Bloody Valentine - Feed Me With Your Kiss
The Mekons - Memphis, Egypt
Rodan (pictured)- The Everyday World of Bodies
Catherine Wheel - I Want To Touch You
The Vaselines - Lovecraft

Playlist February 19th, 2009

Talk Talk - Eden
Talking Heads - Electricity (Drugs) (Live)
Guided By Voices - My Valuable Hunting Knife
Mazzy Star - She Hangs Brightly
Elevator To Hell - Why I Didn't Like August 93
Meat Puppets- Aurora Borealis
Bikini Kill - Anti-Pleasure Dissertation
Loop - Afterglow
Teenage Jesus and the Jerks - Orphans
Beck - Pay No Mind (Snoozer)
Swirlies - Bell
Palace Brothers - The Cellar Song
fIREHOSE - Sometimes
NEU! - Hallogallo
Robyn Hitchcock - Executioner
The Primitives - I Almost Touched You
Th' Faith Healers - Serge (live)
The Afghan Whigs - Miles iz Ded
Morrissey - I'm OK By Myself
Wire - Map Ref. 41°N 93°W
The Breeders - When I Was a Painter
Polvo (pictured) - Lazy Comet
Ultra Vivid Scene - Grey Turns To White
The Replacements - Anadrogynous
Slowdive - Sing
The Folk Implosion - Pole Position

Review: Morrissey - Years of Refusal

Anticipation for Morrissey’s ninth solo album Years of Refusal has been flooding from the press in the last few weeks.  Perhaps this enthusiasm stems from the fact that it has been three long years since the release of Ringleader of the Tormentors, because of the cryptic cover artwork or perhaps because Morrissey described this effort as his “strongest work to date.”  Though the last point surely isn’t accurate, Morrissey has managed to produce one of his best albums in recent memory.

“Something Is Squeezing My Skull” immediately showcases Jerry Finn’s clean production and the aggressive, guitar based construction found throughout the record. “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris,” the first single from Years of Refusal is a wonderful pop composition that successfully uses the Morrissey formula without being repetitive or predictable.  Moz sounds lively, and gives a performance not equaled in its ferocity since You Are the Quarry.  No doubt these songs will sound great live – perhaps this is why he has not been shy in exhibiting these new cuts during recent shows.  Morrissey’s songwriting remains strong on this disc and is less elusive than that on Ringleader of the Tormentors.   In fact, Moz seems to take a more empowered stance toward his lyrics than usual.  Of course, his usual sentiments are on display, especially in “One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell” and “Black Cloud,” but in addition to these Morrissey seems more confident in his self-sufficiency as he settles into his fifties. This is most apparent in the closing track, where Morrissey proclaims “I’m OK by myself!  And I don’t need you and I never have.”

Some of Morrissey’s musical experimentation is unwelcome; especially the mariachi guitar on “When I Last Spoke To Carol” and the two minutes of ambient drone on the end of ”You Were Good In Your Time.”  Otherwise the bolder musical decisions on this album cater to Morrissey’s strengths, and result in a very enjoyable collection of pop songs.  Two of the best tracks on this release, “That’s How People Grow Up” and “All You Need Is Me” were previously released on Morrissey’s 2008 greatest hits compilation, but nonetheless they are welcome additions to this album.  Overall, the newest release from one of our favorite solo musicians showcases his strengths: meandering and dramatic vocals, his exceptional musical presence, and sharp (not to mention entertaining) songwriting.  Of course a solid band consisting of regular guitarist Boz Boorer, along with Jesse Tobias (guitar), Soloman Walker (bass) and Matt Walker (drums) provides the necessary instrumentation.  Expect to hear a cut from Years of Refusal on our show tomorrow! 

Years of Refusal is out now on Attack/Lost Highway (US)

Playlist February 12th, 2009

Black Flag - Bastard In Love (Live)
Adam & The Ants - You're So Physical (Peel Session)
The dB's - Amplifier
Beat Happening - Let's Kiss
The Homosexuals - Walk Before Imitate
The Slits - Ping Pong Affair
Spiritualized - Take Your Time
Yo La Tengo - From A Motel 6
Eugenius - Breakfast
The Velvet Underground - Ocean
Hüsker Dü - Green Eyes
Drop Nineteens - Kick The Tragedy
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Who?
The Embarrassment - Lewis & Clark
Blur - Repetition
Radiohead - Just
Thurston Moore - Ono Soul
Jawbox (pictured) - Breathe
The Misfits - Bullet
Dinosaur Jr. - Sludgefeast
The Pastels - Truck Train Tractor
The Verve - Gravity Grave [edit]
The Olivia Tremor Control - Define a Transparent Dream
The Bevis Frond - Wild Mind
The Psychedelic Furs - So Run Down
Iggy Pop - Fall In Love With Me

Playlist February 5th, 2009

Joy Division - Transmission (Live)
Wipers - Youth of America
Dead Milkmen - Methodist Coloring Book (Request)
Built To Spill and Caustic Resin - One Thing
Bowery Electric (Pictured) - Another Road (Request)
Superchunk - The Question Is How Fast
The Grifters - Mysterious Friend
Minutemen - Fake Contest
R.E.M. - Oddfellows Local 151
Chapterhouse - Pearl
Magnetic Fields - Torn Green Velvet Eyes
Orange Juice - Blokes On 45
Pale Saints - You Tear the World In Two
Mercury Rev - Boys Peel Out
Cocteau Twins - Pandora
Pixies - In Heaven (Lady In The Radiator Song)
Midnight Oil - Dreamworld
Butthole Surfers - Human Cannonball
Scratch Acid - Cannibal
The Feelies - The Boy With The Perpetual Nervousness
Sugar - A Good Idea
Sebadoh - Last Day of School
Fugazi - Merchandise
Tiger Trap - Puzzle Pieces
Medicine - A Short Happy Life
Melvins - Joan of Arc