otium cum dignitate:

New Music

The Arcade Fire: Neon Bible
A good friend of mine convinced me to buy "Funeral," Arcade Fire's first album, last year and I'd say my reaction to that album was mixed. I recognized that the band had some unique ideas, and an interesting sound, but it just didn't really fit my musical tastes. "Neon Bible" may be less inventive, but all in all, I think it is more enjoyable to listen to than "Funeral." However, I actually went to an Arcade Fire show here in DC last weekend, and I have to admit that the songs they played from "Funeral" were much more energetic and exciting than the selections from "Neon Bible." The concert, like the recordings, come off as highly orchestrated and refined rock compositions. There is little wasted space, and the music features an interesting, although somewhat off-putting blend of instruments and vocals. The finished product takes some getting used to, but once you've acquired the Arcade Fire taste, it's hard to put these albums down. (****)
Bloc Party: A Weekend in the City
Sure enough, Bloc Party validated my predictions and avoided the dreaded "sophomore slump" with their second album. While Silent Alarm was a bit more polished, A Weekend in the City takes more chances, and offers a more diverse and creative set of songs than the band's first album. There are clear allusions to Radiohead's Kid A throughout this album, but Bloc Party does a good job of continuing to hone their own unique sound. "I Still Remember" is the sort of anthemic single that could propel Bloc Party onto the national spotlight. (****)
Thom Yorke: The Eraser
This is basically a solo version of Kid A, although you can't really tell it's solo since there isn't really any instrumental background, only synthesized stuff like on Kid A and Amnesiac. I like this album, but i'm still really looking forward to the full band's new album which is expected in a couple of months. The Eraser is basically an addendum to Kid A/Amnesiac, and that's ok. But im excited to hear what's next. (****)
The Strokes: First Impressions of Earth
This is my first Strokes CD, and the first album in a recent foray of CD buying over the last week or so. Knowing almost nothing about the band, I first listened to this CD with an open mind, and I liked what I heard. Although there aren't many especially interesting songs, the overall sound is pleasing, and even a bit catchy at times. To me, Julian Casablancas' singing basically makes this band what it is. He has an extremely deep voice, and he features his impressive singing ability much more so on this album than on the other two. I went out and bought "Is this it" as an encore, but I am so far dissapointed in the older album. Sorry, AMG, but we just can't agree this time. (***)
Brad Mehldau: Day is Done
Another fine addition to the Brad Mehldau collection. On this newest album, the trio welcomes Jeff Ballard on drums to replace Jorge Rossy at least temporarily, and I must say Ballard provides a refreshing new feel to a trio that was in danger of becoming somewhat repetitive and dull. As usual, Mehldau delights those of us who supplement our Jazz listening with recordings from the real world as he begins this album with a rendition on the Radiohead composition "Knives Out." This is one of Mehldau's better albums in recent years. I don't want to completely sell out Rossy, but this trio seems to have more energy and spontaneity than it had on the previous few albums. (*****)
Bloc Party: Silent Alarm
After hearing a short clip online, I decided to see these guys perform at Music Midtown. Typically with rock-type bands, I know whether I'm going to like them or not within the first 30 seconds. Clearly, since I just bought the CD, Bloc Party impressed me from the outset and maintained my interest throughout their hour-long performance. In danger of becoming just another English band in the form of Coldplay or Keane, Bloc Party has thus far succeeded with a unique sound that blends the smooth and clean style of those former two bands with the type of rock heard on some of, dare I say, Radiohead's older albums like the Bends and Pablo Honey. Just released in March, this first album has a lot of good stuff on it. Bloc Party has serious potential. (****)
Joe Lovano: I'm All For You
As far as ballad-oriented albums go, this one is pretty damn good. Offering fresh renditions of standards as well as a few originals, Lovano's tone and expression remains unique but also traditional as he moves around these charts and improvises. This is really my first exposure to Lovano other than seeing him live once in New York. I like the album a lot and personally think he handles the ballads much better than Michael Brecker on his Ballad Book album a few years ago. (****)

Photo Albums

Sunday, September 05, 2004

The RNC

I gave the democrats their fair chance. Looking back, I was leaning slightly to the left after the DNC. Now, having watched the RNC in almost all of its entirety, im feeling stronger and stronger about voting for Bush this fall.

Call me a fickle swing voter, accuse me of liberal betrayal, or rejoice that I have been successfully wooed back to my true party. Its probably a little of all three. But mostly, I feel like Bush has not done a bad enough job to warrant his removal in favor of an inexperienced Kerry-Edwards liberal installment. Lets try to break it down issue by issue:

Foreign Policy: I think Bush and his little team of neo-cons could stand to tone down the rhetoric a little bit. While protecting our country is the ultimate priority, abandoning important alliances should not be so easily allowed. With that said, the war in Iraq will ultimately be a good thing. Im optimistic that this grand democratic experiment will at least somewhat work and help to bring free societies to the Middle East. The terrorists didn't attack us because of Bush, they attacked us because we're the USA. Much of the pre-9/11 planning took place during the previous democratic administration. I'm not sure I buy Kerry's argument that as a "new face" he will be able to work some sort of magic and everyone will love us again. But I still am skeptical of the process Bush took leading up to the war, and overall, foreign policy is the issue i'm closest to Kerry on right now.

Economy: I don't care what the NYT or my liberal friend dave has to say. The economy is getting better and job growth is strong right now. All this BS about how Bush will be the only president since Hoover to preside over an overall job loss is shortsighted and plainly ignorant. The technology crash and subsequent 9/11 disaster set Bush up with an extremely uphill battle on the economy. Things really are getting better. 144,000 new jobs in August and spending is up as well. I believe in tax cuts and I think that they are the best strategy for jumpstarting a stalled economy. Other than this, I still sense a little bit of protectionist anti-free trade sentiment being harbored in the Kerry-Edwards camp. It could just be politics...but we are talking about John Kerry and John Edwards here....they sorta have a history with this stuff.

Social Issues: Bush's education plan has obvious flaws. But its still a plan in action. Bush has brought serious attention to education in this country and for this he deserves praise. On other fronts, I have a real problem with the republicans when they bring issues like Gay rights and abortion to the forefront of politics. Gay rights should remain a state-by-state debate and decision. Why on earth should we be wasting time arguing about a senseless Amendment to ban gay-marriage? Moving on, free-choice should and will always remain law. There are other ways to curb abortions without straight up eliminating free-choice. Realistic birth control methods and education is a start.

Civil Liberties: Get Ashcroft out of there. Whats all this talk about freedom when we've got all this patriot act crap. The patriot act shouldn't be completely revoked...but it needs serious revision.

Character and Leadership: Kerry is digging himself deeper and deeper with all this Vietnam nonsense. The Swift boat dudes should be counted as ultra-partisan Bush-backers with little credibility. But the immense amount of time spent on Kerry's Vietnam service during the DNC opened the floodgates to attacks from the right. Who CARES what happened on this or that boat in the middle of some shitty river during some shitty war in the 60's? Kerry's defensiveness on this issue only continues to hurt him. Cheney has somehow turned himself into the loveable VP who is both resilient and compassionate. Cheney's re-made image has got to be one of the major strong points in Bush's campaign this fall.

Technically, im still undecided until the debates. But I think you can probably guess where im headed. Phew...why'd I write this thing? And why do I still have a blog?

Sunday, September 05, 2004 at 01:52 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (1)