Time for a little change of scenery. Given that the majority of content on this blog is heavily laden with indie rock bands, one might conclude that this consortium is only listening to… indie rock! This just simply isn’t true. In addition to indie/alternative/math/prep/whateveryouwannacallit rock, hiphop has long been a favorite music styling of mine. This affinity dates back to the purchase of my first parental advisory album, the Above the Rim soundtrack, when I was 12 years young (much to the dismay of Tipper Gore, I’m sure). One listen of the Warren G classic “Regulate” and I was hooked 4 life. Today, there is a plethora of amazing hiphop that has yet to achieve baller status. Check out some of these ballerific MC’s that are hovering below the radar:

As Death Cab for Cutie’s new album Narrow Stairs drops in a few short weeks here on May 13, it amazes me to reflect on the fact that they released their first album You Can Play These Songs With Chords over ten years ago in 1997. The driving force behind the success of all the things Death Cab, is their front man Ben Gibbard and his perchant for songwriting. His broad career as lead singer in All Time Quarterback, vocals of the ever reaching Postal Service, and his anchoring of Death Cab have allowed us to enjoy his voice and songwriting in a variety of settings. Personally, the first indie album that I fully embraced was Death Cab’s We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes. The album is a song by song chronological story of a man who finds a lover and comes to realize that she actually is engaged to someone else, and the emotional complexities of seeing her marry the other man. Gibbard’s lyrics carry the listener through the complete arch of the relationship cycle; passion, betrayal, bitterness, and regret in a liberating and refreshing way.

This month’s Paste magazine ran a special self penned article on Ben Gibbard, giving the listener an insight into his song writing and motivations. It was a real treat if you enjoy his songs as much as I do….Enjoy

Paste Magazine Article

And check out Death Cab’s new video for “I Will Possess Your Heart”

Zooey D stole some hipster hearts last night; mine included. Not exactly the most unbiased way to start a review, but what are you going to do. Half the appeal of the newly formed She & Him lies in the celebrity of one Zooey Dechanel (it doesn’t hurt that she has paired up with the incomparable M. Ward). They recently put together a pretty quality LP entitled Volume I. Overall, I give this an 8.5/10. I’ll be honest, that’s more so than most reviewers, but I’m a sucker for risk takers. I like the Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse’s (pre cracked-out), and now the She & Him’s who are willing to mix up convention. But, this isn’t an album review so much as a concert review.

I’m telling you the show was pretty decent, besides the short run time of less than 1 hour. Zooey had lost her voice, so refrained from talking between songs. But, surprisingly, it didn’t affect her singing all that much… she trudged on with the occasional cracked note and sang her signature Folk-Americana-Country-Jazz-Indie sound; surprisingly representative of the album. M. Ward takes a back seat to this collaboration, but nevertheless provides amazingly smoky, soulful background that enhances the overall sound She & him is going for.

The hyped ‘Why Don’t You Let Me Stay Here” lived up, as Zooey rocked out on Keyboard, and her voice rang true to the sentiment of the song. “Change is Hard” slowed the crowd down to just the right pace. A great interlude and a solid way to showcase the voices of Zooey and M. By far the most crowd enjoyable tune of the evening was the finale of “Sweet Darling” – a late 60’s throwback with the backbone to get a crowd moving and wishing for more.

I’ll say the best part of the night was seeing Zooey’s youthful enthusiasm for being on stage. When M. Ward would be rockin a solo, she was wide eyed, grin from ear to ear, looking at the crowd with the admiration we were equally returning. I say it was great as it’s refreshing to see artists who don’t expect admiration, don’t expect praise. They preform their craft and create music for themselves that we, the crowd, loves. There’s something to say about musical inhibitions when its clearly overshadowed by raw talent.

If you aren’t fortunate enough to live in NYC, LA, or San Fran, you may be out of luck to catch them. They chose to debut their songs on a whopping 3 city, 4 date tour. I think their expectations under estimated the true impact of their music.

I highly recommend checking them out… it will mix up the typical indie tunes with some solid country throwbacks. If you get the chance to see them live, hit it up. Ifor no other reason than the beautiful Zooey Dechanel.

Just pulled myself together after laughing for the past half hour from reading a spot on blog called stuffwhitepeoplelike.com. Even more conspicuous than the name is the actual content, which features a running list of entities for which Caucasians stereotypically value. My personal favorite would have to be Stuff White People Like #41 - Indie Music. Obviously, this is meant to be interpretted as a joke; please attempt to utilize your nonpartisanship (which is also something white people like). Haha, enjoy!

Guest post from Ryan Graves of ActionsTalk.com

When MTV started airing ‘Elimidate’ (and other equally worthless shows) and permanently abandoned their roots, music, many were very upset. When Fall Out Boy became “Sell Out Boy” and abandoned their indie roots, many others were very upset.

Pitchfork.tv provides and awesome combination of what MTV and Fall Out Boy stole from us, great indie music with great indie videos. Not only does pitchfork.tv hook up some great videos they are on the ball with offering some mp3’s and blogs along with the usual fodder of photos, reviews and interviews.

In the words of the founders:
“Pitchfork.tv is the first-ever music video channel dedicated to the documentation of independent music. As a visual extension of the music coverage Pitchfork Media has provided for more than a decade, and a means of updating and advancing the music television format, Pitchfork.tv brings you closer to the artists you love, through original mini-documentaries, secret rooftop and basement sessions, full concerts, exclusive interviews, and the most carefully curated selection of music videos online.”

My take:
Site well built. The UI is phenomenally creative where the video playing never leave center stage but you can still read your reviews and get the concert schedules. As a say.no.radio faithful this is a welcomed combo to my favorites.

So it’s long been the proverbial nightmare and/or kiss of death for a indie or underground band to be either endorsed by or endorsee of mainstream products. As soon as MTV, Billboard Top 10, or your mom starts talking up the new MGMT single, well, the band loses a bit of what made it so special. The sad reality of bands with largely hipster fanbases, is that while they will be your biggest supporter and proponent one minute, with a whiff of mainstreamosity, they can and often will turn their backs quicker than you can finish their album.

So why, then, the influx of Indie bands going mainstream? I speak particularly to TV commercials. Now we all know the ubiquitous Ipod ads, with everyone from Fiest to Wynton Marsalis to Cansei de Ser Sexy (P.S. Blatantly ripping off Zune’s

previous ad with the same song). But it doesn’t just stop at Ipod. With Madison Ave releasing a barrage of snide and

self-deprecating adverts, they’ve apparently deemed Indie music as the holy grail to reach the illusive 18-34 year old. And unfortunately, were not even just talking about about cutting edge products like Zune and Ipod. I’m talking:

*Click to see ad

Damien Rice - United Airlines

Death Cab for Cutie - UPS

Of Montreal - Outback Steakhouse

Damien Rice - M&M’s (same song, 2 commercials . . .sell out)

Griffin House - Rembrandt Toothpaste

Band of Horses - Ford

Wilco - Volkswagen

I mean the list goes on and on. What the hell is the deal! Where did the artists go who spit in the face of bland mainstream corporatization. Now to be fair, BOH did pull out of a deal with Wal-Mart (only, though, to move on to Ford shortly thereafter). I guess I have to assume that these bands weighed the costs / benefits to going mainstream, and somehow came to the conclusion that it was in their best interests. Maybe the thought of alienating your fan base now comes second to a fat paycheck in your wallet. They need to realize that they live in a music realm where their success is directly proportional to the positive word of mouth from their fans. The people that truly appreciate your music for what it is, where it came from, and what it means don’t often sit idly by to watch an artist sell-out.

I guess I can’t wholly complain, though. I do have to admit that some of these commercials border on decent, including BOH’s ‘The Funeral’ in the Ford Commercial. Its an amazing song, and personally I think it add’s something special to the piece. Griffin House’s commercial was even ranked the 12th most romantic commercial of all time by Playboy.

To me it just seems interesting; a genre dominated by big names, big budgets, and, more often than not, terrible music, has opened its arms (and vice versa) to indie musician’s. There may be something to say after all about Pop exposure, elevating these amazing bands from the kiddie pool and tossin ‘em in the deep end.

Maybe we’re nearing the end of the selfish propensity of every indie fan to hoard great new music and abhor their inevitable rise from obscurity. Maybe its finally time to share.

Thoughts?

With the year of 2007 winding down, its time to declare who’s the best. With shows like “Top 20 TV commercials”, “Top 15 celebrity meltdowns” and Fox probably showing “Top 25 bear attacks”, all over the airways it’s only appropriate that we at Say No Radio join the crowd and say what we think. Plus there is just something nice and manly about lists. They say “I am a man and here is what I think about this” in a very nice top to bottom fashion. After much thought and deliberation here is my best effort.

10 albums of the year:
1) Daft Punk - Alive 2007
2) Spoon- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
3) LCD Soundsystems- Sounds of Silver
4) Radiohead – In Rainbows
5) Interpol - Our Love to Admire
6) Peter, Bjorn, and John- Writer’s Block
7) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
8 ) Tokyo Police Club - A Lesson in Crime
9) Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew - Spirit If
10) Feist - The Reminder
Honorable Mention: Fujiya and Miyagi -Transparent Things, Pinback - Autumn of the Seraphs, M.I.A. - Kala

Top 5 Breakout Artists/ Albums
1) Peter, Bjorn, and John - Writer’s Block
2) Tokyo Police Club - A lesson in Crime
3) Fujiya and Miyagi - Transparent Things
4) Kooks - Inside In/ Inside Out
5) The Fratellis- Costello Music

Top 15 Songs (This was extremely difficult)
1) Peter, Bjorn, and John - “Young Folks”
2) Interpol - “Rest My Chemistry”
3) LCD Soundsystem - “North American Scum”
4) Tokyo Police Club - “Be Good”
5) Spoon - “Don’t You Evah”
6) LCD Soundsystem - “Someone Great”
7) Arcade Fire - “No Cars Go”
8 ) Cold War Kids - “Hang Me Up to Dry”
9) Radiohead - “The Reckoner”
10) Band of Horses “The Funeral”
11) Thieves Like Us - “Drugs in My Body”
12) Pinback - “Good to Sea”
13) Peter, Bjorn, and John - “Let’s Call it Off”
14) BSS presents Kevin Drew - “Lucky Ones”
15) The Format - “The First Single”
Honorable Mention: Feist “1-2-3-4″ , Fujiya and Miyagi “Transparent Things”, Tokyo Police Club “Nature of the Experiment”, M.I.A. “Paper Planes”

Best Band Names
1) Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
2) I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness
3) Venice is Sinking

Best Song Names
1) “Sweden Hasn’t Changed, You Have””
2) ”Hospital Rooms Aren’t For Lovers”
3) “The Late Great Libido”

There it is…..I tried to stick to the year of 2007 or late 2006 at least to keep it real (which is why The Decemberists Crane Wife and The Rapture’s Pieces of the People We Love are absent from the list above) . Oh and by the way, I must say that our Canadian brothers up North had quite a year. Arcade Fire, Tokyo Police Club, Broken Social Scene, Feist, Seth Rogan (Superbad), Steve Nash and the Canadian Dollar’s triumph over the greenback. I will go on record and say this is the only time I will acknowledge Canada for having a good year.

Feel free to disagree with my positions above…2008 is an election year anyway, we might as well get used to arguing.

Happy Holidays,

Kristopher

I love Interpol. The foursome from New York City have three critically acclaimed/disparaged albums: Turn on the Bright Lights (2002), Antics (2004), and Our Love to Admire (2007). The most recent being their first on a major label.

Their lyrics have the decisive ability to evoke imagery of dark city allies and forlorn subway rides. Sounds pretty gloomy, right? Depends on whom you ask. Personally, I find their unsyncopated and linear approach to music to be sophisticated, innovative, and brilliantly artistic. If you haven’t listened to this phenominal band, please do yourself a favor and sample the playlist located on your left.

Perhaps these lyrics from my top 10 songs will help convey the genius I find in their music… or maybe we’re just on a different wavelength.

01. Evil
…make revision to a dream while you wait in the van

02. PDA
Yours is the only version of my desertion
that I could ever subscribe to

03. Rest My Chemistry
I’ve made hallways scenes for things to regret

04. Slow Hands
But I am married to your charms and grace
I just go crazy like the good old days
You make me want to pick up a guitar
And celebrate the myriad ways that I love you

05. C’mere
I’m in love with something real
It could be me that’s changing

06. Obstacle 1
She puts the weights into my little heart

07. Narc
Touch your thighs, I’m the lonely one
Remember that last sweat cause that was the right one

08. Pace Is The Trick
Well I see you as you take your pride, my lioness
Your defences seem wise I cannot press

09. Leif Erikson
It’s like learning a new language
Helps me catch up on my mime
If you don’t bring up those lonely parts
This could be a good time

10. Public Pervert
If time is my vessel, then learning to love
Might be my way back to sea
___________________________________________________________________

For a similar sound, I also recommend:
- Joy Division
- The Chameleons
- Echo and the Bunnymen
- Editors
- 120 Days
- Heavens

Anyone who loves music as much as we do, knows the thrill of attending a live show. There’s nothing better! After seeing north of 150 bands perform live, I’ve rummaged through my ticket stubs and listed my top 10 concerts of all time (thus far):

1. Phish at Nassau Coliseum (Uniondale, NY) - 02.28.03
2. Daft Punk at Lollapalooza (Chicago, IL) - 08.03.07
3. Roger Waters at Marcus Amphiteater (Milwaukee, WI) - 07.02.07
4. Phish at Tweeter Center (Camden, NJ) - 07.31.03
5. Coldplay at PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel, NJ) - 09.03.05
6. Interpol at Lollapalooza (Chicago, IL) - 08.04.07
7. Dave Matthews Band at Hersheypark Stadium (Hershey, PA) - 07.21.02
8. Jack Johnson at Merriweather Post Pavilion (Columbia, MD) - 09.09.05
9. Mason Jennings at The Funk Box (Baltimore, MD) - 04.26.04
10. Red Hot Chili Peppers at Bradley Center (Milwaukee, WI) - 02.28.07

It’s October, but if it weren’t for the fact that the days are progressively getting shorter, I’d still think it was July. I don’t know how the weather is for you guys in Milwaukee, but its hot/humid as sh*t here in D.C. It was around this time 3 years ago that I was first introduced to the independent music scene. Someone told me to listen to the song “New Slang” by the Shins because it would “change my life”. His name was Zach…Zach Braff. Ok, I lie…I don’t know Zach Braff. But the Garden State soundtrack began my exploration of the virtual cornucopia of amazing artists and music that constitute the independent scene. I’ll be honest, that album bores me now, as my tastes have changed substantially. But you have to give credit where it’s due.

Anyways, there is a lot of great music out there. But, as Dan said, if you are relying on the billboard top 100, you are missing out. So, while the weather is still warm, and Summer lingers in our minds, I’m going to recommend my Top 5 Tracks of the previous few months (in no particular order).

1. Blitzen Trapper “Wild Mountain Nation”
2. Aesop Rock “None Shall Pass”
3. Okkervil River “Unless it Kicks”
4. Spoon “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb”
5. Prodigy (of Mobb Deep) “Mac 10 Handle”

To be honest, a bunch of other songs are coming to mind…so I don’t know if those are the “top” tracks, but they are bombs nonetheless.