Six Pack of the Week - Grab Bag

We had originally intended to do a six pack featuring really good songs from bands that otherwise suck. But as it turns out, those kinds of songs are hard to come by. I guess it makes sense, and, really, why would we want to make you listen to sucky bands? Instead here are some good songs that have been on our minds of late. Brock goes first this time, and let's all welcome him back to the land of the Internet.

Ben's Brother - Stuttering (Kiss Me Again)

First off is a song I've been meaning to post for some time now. It's catchy stuff, and I can't help but sing along. I love the whole stuttering thing throughout the song. Check it out!

[mp3] Ben's Brother - Stuttering

The sites: Official | Myspace

The sounds: iTunes | Amazon

Ludo - Love Me Dead

The vocals on this one kind of remind me of Max from Say Anything; intense and urgent. The lyrical content is Say Anything-ish, as well. It's a bizarre mix of romantic and morbid, and it totally works.

[mp3] Ludo - Love Me Dead

The sites: Official | Myspace

The sounds: iTunes | Amazon

Kraig's Picks

The Damnwells - Kung Fu Grip Kiss

I've been stuck on Air Stereo recently. Maybe there's just something about the warm, sunny weather that makes me yearn for the album, or maybe it's just some damn fine music. I think I'll go with the latter, though I do tend to listen to this one whenever I'm adventuring in the great outdoors.

Kung Fu Grip Kiss has a rather silly name but don't be deceived, it's killer (not filler). If you enjoy some damn fine vocals, swelling horns and a catchy-as-hell hook (who DOESN'T??) then I recommend takin' a listen. This song will put a goofy smile on your face right when you hear those shiny horns take you halfway to funky town - guaransheed.

[mp3] The Damnwells - Kung Fu Grip Kiss

Visit them online: Official | Myspace
Buy their music: Amazon | iTunes

Arizona - Some Kind of Chill

Ah, yet another band that finds itself in rather favorable position on my virtual iTunes chart due to the changing of the seasons. I'd imagine that Some Kind of Chill will somehow make it's way onto a summer playlist of mine in my golden years. I'd hope so anyways.

Take a bit of folk and add some sunny back ground vocals with some smart instrumentation and you've got Arizona. I highly recommend checking them out if you haven't done so already.

[mp3] Arizona - Some Kind of Chill

Visit them online: Official | Myspace
Buy their music: Amazon | iTunes

Stu's Two

The Shins - Sea Legs

I keep wanting to call this song funky. I think it's because the bass line sets the tone, which usually results in a funky song. And yes, I absolutely loooove the bass. The other thing I enjoy about this song: it sounds nothing like what you'd expect from The Shins. You owe it to yourself to check this out, even if you're biased against these dudes.

[mp3] The Shins - Sea Legs

Visit The Shins online: Official | Myspace
Buy some: Amazon | iTunes

Counting Crows - Anna Begins

I listened to Anna Begins many, many times before I finally developed an appreciation for it. The first couple listens left me feeling generally...uneasy. Still, I gave it a listen every once in a while until one day it finally clicked. It really is an excellent blend of beat, instruments, and vocals to create a precise mood. I now love the repeating, "I am not worried, I am not overly concerned;" so basic, yet so effective. It's an oldie (from August and Everything After), but always worth a listen.

[mp3] Counting Crows - Anna Begins

Visit Counting Crows online: Official | Myspace
Buy some: Amazon | iTunes

Six Pack of the Week - Bonus Tracks!

Sometimes 12 songs just isn't enough. Sometimes, you're just listening along to a new cd, and that last song ends, but it doesn't end. Or sometimes it'll just be an extra track thrown your way, as a very special thank you for buying the cd. You'd better buckle up, because you've entered the realm of bonus tracks, baby. I (Brock) will go first this time around.

The Damnwells - Air Stereo

Air Stereo is hands down one of my favorite albums. "Accidental Man," "I've Got You," and "I Am a Leaver," just to name a few incredible tracks. Why they chose the title track as a bonus track is beyond me, but I'm more than willing to accept an odd decision with such a good album.

[mp3] The Damnwells - Air Stereo

Buy some Damnwells: iTunes | Amazon

Visit the site: Official | Myspace

Jack's Mannequin - Into the Airwaves

Everything in Transit is the (so far) only album from the former frontman for Something Corporate, and it's a great record. It "ends" with a song called "M.F.E.O./You Can Breathe" that is a giant run-on sentence of beautiful pop-punk-piano songwriting. Then there's a little spoken thing about the end of the record, and how there won't be another record for a while because of laziness. Then "Into the Airwaves" starts up, right out of nowhere.

[mp3] Jack's Mannequin - Into the Airwaves

Buy some Jack's Mannequin: iTunes | Amazon

Visit the websites: Official | Myspace

Kraig's Picks

Counting Crows - Sunday Morning L.A.

Brock and I recently reviewed Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, Counting Crows' latest release. While we were slightly disappointed with the album itself, we didn't directly address the bonus tracks that came with an iTunes purchase of the album.

Strangely enough, Counting Crows followed in the footsteps they themselves set in This Desert Life by keeping some of the best work off of the proper album, instead saving it for a bonus track. Similar to "Kid Things" from This Desert Life, "Sunday Morning L.A." is a very strong track - which further boggles my mind as to why it couldn't make the cut over some of the other duds that did.

[mp3] Sunday Morning L.A.

Buy some Counting Crows: Amazon | iTunes
Visit them online: Official | Myspace

Howie Day - So, Goodbye

As I discussed in a previous post, Howie Day's post Australia career has left me wanting a bit more. Stop All The Wold Now was a fair album (on a good day) with a few strong tracks and a lot of songs that were trying too hard to hit top 40 radio. It seemed almost like Howie was trying to distance himself from the sound he created on Australia.

That, in itself, was probably the reason I fell hard for the bonus tracks that popped up in the Special Edition releases and on the Japanese release. These tracks had more passion and depth then the rest of the album - it was Howie, not some cheap TRL clone! Not surprisingly, my favorite cuts from the album ended up being "bonus tracks". Most were included after-the-fact on import or special editions, including this one, "So, Goodbye".

[mp3] So, Goodbye

Buy some Howie Day: Amazon | iTunes
Visit Howie online: Official | Myspace

Stu's Two

First, I just want to say that Brock stole one of my bonus tracks, that dirty sneak! But I will echo his sentiments on The Damnwells - Air Stereo; most days I feel like this is the best song on the album. Usually on those days Kraig calls me an idiot, but I shall continue to stick to my crazy notions and opinions!

Pete Yorn - Go With It

Back when Pete released Nightcrawler either his label, his management or the man himself decided that, in order to better promote the record, they should throw out a bunch 'o bonus tracks that were "exclusive" to different stores. This meant that you got different bonus tracks if you bought Nightcrawler from Circuit City rather than from Best Buy or iTunes, and vice versa. (Pete talks about it in an old interview with BrooklynVegan)

On one hand, it was nice that all these new Pete Yorn tracks were being released. On the other, it made the couple days after the album was released quite hectic while we were trying to round up all the bonus tracks. (Check out these old posts from Heather and Bryce for most of 'em). Go With It is the most rockin' of the bonus tracks, and probably should've been put in the meaty part of the CD instead of being an iTunes-only song.

[mp3] Pete Yorn - Go With It

Buy some Pete Yorn: Amazon | iTunes
Visit him online: Official | Myspace

Sense Field - The Horse Is Alive

So I think the story goes that one day Kraig was browsing around in our local independent music store (which, sadly, no longer exists), and randomly found Sense Field's Living Outside and picked it up on a whim. I managed to get a hold of it ('cause that's what happens when you live with a dude), and it didn't leave my grasp for quite a while.

It makes me sad that these guys broke up, Living Outside was downright awesome. Powerful vocals, great keys, nice drummin' and strummin'; it's very good stuff! And The Horse Is Alive is one of the best types of bonus tracks: the hidden ones. I hate when they call a song a "bonus track" when it's got its own track break. That's too easy! Your bonus should come after much hard work and due diligence (like fast forwarding for like a minute 'til you're at the exact right moment where the bonus track starts). Yeah, that's what it should be. Anyway, I figure most of you don't want to fast forward through a bunch of silence, so I cut the bonus track out of the nearly 11 minute final track. Hopefully you enjoy it as much as I.

[mp3] Sense Field - The Horse Is Alive

Buy some Sense Field: Amazon | iTunes
Visit them online: Myspace (tribute page)

Bonus Tracks: Now what would a six-pack about bonus tracks be without some bonus tracks? Unless you pre-ordered the deluxe version of Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, you probably didn't get these songs. I don't think that's terribly fair, so here are two bonus bonus tracks (along with my apologies for the delayed post [Brock's fault]):

[mp3] Counting Crows - There Goes Everything

[mp3] Counting Crows - Come Around (Acoustic)

Review - Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings

Album Review - Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings by Counting Crows

It has arrived! Today Kraig and Brock will take you through the new album from Adam Duritz and the gang. It's a two-part album, so how about a two-part review?

Saturday Nights (Kraig)

The first half of the album (Saturday Nights) has long been referred to has the "edgier" half. Adam promised some balls-out rock and the boys deliver, right from the opening riff of 1492 and all the way through to Cowboys.

Speaking of Cowboys, while it's the last track of the Saturday Nights side, it was also the first track to leak from the sessions that became Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings. I was elated, nay, ecstatic upon my first listen of Cowboys. Adam's vocals were passionate - downright pissed at times. The guitars were ferocious. The lyrical content was beautiful - definitely leaning heavily on the Recovering the Satellites days.

Sadly, the rest of the cuts from Saturday Nights are hit and miss. 1492 makes me feel like Adam is trying a bit too hard to be a "rocker". Hanging Tree almost has it, then they throw in a bit too much in the bridge. Los Angeles, Sundays and Insignificant are all fine tracks - just not up to the standard that they set with Cowboys.

While the Saturday Nights side is short, I can't really say it's sweet. I want to love this album, I really do - it just doesn't quite do it for me. Cowboys and Hanging Tree seem to be the standout tracks on this side, the rest seems to be more "filler" than "killer".

[mp3] Cowboys

Sunday Mornings (Brock)

The fierce, driving guitars of "Cowboys" give way to the delicate picking of "Washington Square," and we begin the remorse and reparations of Sunday morning. Even though Adam claims to have sold his piano in the first line, piano music provides a gorgeous backdrop to the lush arrangement. Every note is deliberate and excellent, as guitar, piano, banjo, and harmonica join together on the walk home to Washington Square. The stand-out track for me is definitely "When I Dream of Michelangelo." It is acoustic perfection, and ties together a lot of ideas from previous Crows records.

Lyrically Sunday feels to be on par with the rest of Counting Crows' catalog, and musically it feels like an acoustic This Desert Life. As you can most likely tell, I want very much to heap praise on this latest offering from my all-time favorite band. I just can't.

[mp3] When I Dream of Michelangelo

Conclusion (Kraig)

In all, the album is solid. If you're a fan of Counting Crows then you'll be pleased with the majority of the songs. The main gripe we seemed to have was that they tried to do a bit too much on this album. If this was cut down to a 10-12 track album it would probably be getting stellar reviews across the web. Instead, we got stuck with more "filler" than "killer" which left us forgetting some of the higher points of the album.

But seriously, Cowboys is good enough in it's own right for the entire price of admission. It's that good.

Order the album: Amazon | iTunes

Visit Counting Crows on the web: Official | Myspace

Six Pack of the Week - Trouble Sleeping

Well, ya'll finally get to hear from the up-to-now invisible third member of this, err, trio. See? That's why I don't get to type stuff!

Anyway, this week's Six Pack deals with a personal problem of mine: I'm having trouble sleeping! To be more specific, I'm having trouble both falling asleep and sleeping soundly. So, to try to solve my problem, I inevitably turned to music. Maybe some song I've previously overlooked can tell me why I'm not sleeping. Let's see what we got:

[mp3] The Perishers - Trouble Sleeping

I really dig this song, but it doesn't explain why I can't sleep. It does have some really good lines reminding me of times I couldn't sleep in the past though: "You're jumping in my bed/twisting in my head/leave me" and "it's you/now and always you/but never me." However, romantical problems are not the reason why I'm not sleeping.

Buy some The Perishers: Amazon | iTunes
Visit them on the web: Official | Myspace

[mp3] Pete Yorn - Sleep Better

This is what I desire, to sleep better! But all Petey tells me is that "she won't sleep better alone/and he won't sleep better alone/no they won't feel better alone" which doesn't really help me all that much. I love the song Pete, but you aren't helping me here!

Buy some Pete Yorn: Amazon | iTunes

Visit him on the web: Official | Myspace

[mp3] Eels - I Need Some Sleep

This is a very pretty song about "getting over" something. And yes, there are a lot of things to get over, so don't look at me like that. Anyway, this isn't it either. If it was, that 'something' would always be on my mind, and there's been nothing constantly on my mind. Definitely a good song to hear though.

Buy some Eels: Amazon | iTunes
Visit them on the web: Official | Myspace

[mp3] Counting Crows - I'm Not Sleeping

I've always liked this song so I had to include it, even though it sheds little light on my sleeping troubles. I just love how it keeps changing back and forth from a soft, gentle song to a rocking orchestral song. Crazy talk, I know, but it's good stuff.

Buy some Counting Crows: Amazon | iTunes
Visit them on the web: Official | Myspace

[mp3] Trashcan Sinatras - Trouble Sleeping

I almost never listen to Trashcan Sinatras, but this song jumped out to me at first due to its dreamy tone. And then I started to listen to the lyrics. I won't spoil it for you, go ahead give it a listen yourself. Oh, and it's not the reason why I'm having trouble sleeping!

Buy some Trashcan Sinatras: Amazon | iTunes
Visit them on the web: Official | Myspace

[mp3] Radiohead - Go To Sleep

I like this song too much not to include it, though it also does not explain my trouble sleeping. It's just another good Radiohead song; I don't know the musical term for it, but I want to call it good driving guitar. It seems to take the song exactly where it needs to go.

Buy some Radiohead: Amazon | iTunes
Visit them on the web: Official | Myspace

Hmmm, well, at least I got good music to listen to while I'm not sleeping!

Saturday Nights/Sunday Mornings Preview

Brock & I have plethora of Counting Crows for you today, hopefully it will sate your appetite until March 25th when the new album comes out. First, some album tracks:

On Tuesday, Counting Crows released their first "official" single from Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings, a little ditty called "You Can't Count on Me". This one's a little poppy, something that certainly could have fit onto Hard Candy. Cowboys, another track that's found it's way onto the internet is a whole different affair, WAY more rockin' than anything I've heard from CC since Recovering The Satellites.

You Can't Count On Me (MP3)

Cowboys (MP3)

Hey, Brock here. This feast for your ears get wrapped up over at npr.org, of all places, where you can listen to a concert Counting Crows put on for NPR at the World Cafe Live on February 8th. They played 4 songs from Saturday Nights, followed by 4 from Sunday Mornings. It provides a pretty excellent preview of the general feeling the separate records will have, and you can officially count me as very excited.

"Insignificant" has a great chorus, just simple and powerful. The motivation he describes for writing "Cowboys" is some interesting insight into Adam as a writer, and the part about using the "come on, come on, come on" refrain he used in "Accidentally in Love" is pretty cool. All of CC's albums have been pretty cohesive thematically, and this one should be more of the same. "I Dream of Michaelangelo" is dreamy and gorgeous; listen to it twice.

Buy some Counting Crows: Amazon iTunes
Visit them on the web: Official Myspace