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Todd A

Thursday, 31 March 2005

Graham Coxon, Happiness in Magazines (Astralwerks)

Frankly, Graham, I was faking it. My affection for you that is. Sure, I probably gushed over The Sky Is Too High, but when you weren’t looking I was rolling my eyes and turning off the record. There was still hope then for your proper band back in those days. But The Golden D tested my acting skills. I remember liking a few songs on the record, but I don’t even remember what they sounded like, because I haven’t played it since I reviewed it probably. And even looking back at that review, you can tell it’s just a recitation of what the record sounded like to me–a sure sign that it didn’t really move me. Then I just stopped faking it and forgot all about your records. Didn’t you put out another one or two in there? But that was before Happiness in Magazines
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Wednesday, 30 March 2005

Rich Creamy Paint and Friends, split EP

This review appeared on Popshot.net.

Split EPs usually send the message: “none of our bands had enough good material to fill up an EP.‿ But RCP and Friends bucks the trend. The story, as we understand it, is that Rich Creamy Paint won some sort of contest that paid for the CD. They invited three bands of their friends to contribute two songs each. Got that? There’s four bands on the “EP‿–each contributing two songs. Then there’s a collaborative track featuring members of all four bands. So, it’s more like a split LP. (continue reading…)

Monday, 7 March 2005

Dig!, The Movie

Dig! is an immensely watchable exploration into the insanity of rock ‘n’ roll. Following two bands–The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre–over seven years, Dig! captures their successes and failures in unflinching detail. The bands are friends and enemies–each enamored with and jealous of the other. In charting their disparate career trajectories, Dig! uncovers not only a cautionary tale about the music industry but about rock ‘n’ roll life itself. (continue reading…)

Thursday, 3 March 2005

Be Your Own Pet, “Damn Damn Leash” Single (Infinity Cat)

There’s been a lot of talk about this band by their peers in the Nashville indie scene. Be Your Own Pet are very young (high school), haven’t played many shows and are seemingly connected so they’re getting fawned over a la The Strokes, Kings of Leon and countless others who seemingly haven’t “paid their dues.” I’ll give you my opinion on it: I really don’t care. (continue reading…)