The Giant Panther

I'm convinced M. Ward's soul is hundreds of years old. I was floored with his performance last night at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square. I apologize for the lousy pic, but there were about 15 signs posted on the stage requesting that no photos be taken. How, in such a short lifespan, has he managed to take in so many influences, and spit them back out as one entity?

My feeling at this show: try to imagine your favorite Dylan (circa Love and Theft), Waits, Young, or Knopfler show, and cram them into one. I felt myself hanging on every word, and I don't think I was alone. This attentiveness was well earned by Ward, as he put so much thought and feeling into each note he delivered. Almost as if he was channeling this music from somewhere else and bringing it to the stage. His voice is amazing: raspy beyond belief, but soothing, not abrasive. A man of few words onstage, he speaks just like he sings. My favorite part of the night was when someone shouted something from the crowd after an interesting rendition of "Let's Dance". It went something like this:

Guy in Crowd: (Inaudible Howl)
M. Ward: "What?"
Guy in Crowd: "That was sick!"
M. Ward, turning to his band, monotone: "That was sick."

And then the music began again.

He's an amazing guitar player, dizzying displays of finger picking and guitar acrobatics. You never knew when he would pull a harmonica out and start wailing, run over to a Wurly, or grab a fresh guitar after busting a string. Moving and swaying through a number of his best work from the new album Post-War, as well as many favorites from Transistor Radio and Transfiguration of Vincent.

The accompanying band was nothing short of spectacular, unfortunately I don't know any of their names. A girl on drums, offering up beautiful harmonies, guitar and bass player alternating between instruments (and one hell of a whistler), and a second percussionist playing drums and vibes.

The second encore featured Ward alone with an acoustic guitar, and it was here in my opinion where he amazed the most. Six strings and a raspy voice in an otherwise deathly silent auditorium. If anybody has this show, please let me know!! If you have a chance to see M. Ward, don't miss it. Here's one of my favs from his new album Post War, the show opened with a recording of the original lo-fi version by Daniel Johnston, and then the band jumped in full force. Check out my pre-show post to see how it lived up to and blew away my expectations.

MP3: M. Ward - To Go Home
Buy Post War
M. Ward's Website

MP3: Daniel Johnston - To Go Home
Buy The What Of Whom
Daniel Johnston's Website

This post really should have been reserved for an album review of Shut Up I Am Dreaming, Sunset Rubdown's latest, and really only polished release, but alas, I was yet a glimmer in the blogosphere's eyes when it was released. By far one of the most emotional and dynamic albums of 2006. You can play this front to back fifty times, and still find something new to hone in on with each listen.

Lead by Spencer Krug (also of Wolf Parade), Sunset Rubdown has put out a few low-fi EPs in the past, which I have to admit, weren't on the top of my playlist. And of course, they're from Canada. What are they putting in the water up there? If you're familiar with Wolf Parade, you've heard plenty of Spencer Krug already. Wolf Parade is one of my favorites from the first time I heard "I'll Believe In Anything", I was blown away.

Spencer Krug is a modern day Gary Numan (sans English Accent). Whether he's pounding on an organ or singing his ass off, any song that involves Spencer has a sound that is unmistakable. His songwriting is intelligent and full of imagery. From the crash of the first track, "Stadiums and Shrines II", lifting a proverbial skirt to the ceiling ties, revealing something hiding in each of us: "There's a kid in there, and he's big, and dumb, and he's kinda scared, and he's too old to be there, he's just looking for a ride."

I caught Sunset Rubdown earlier this year at TT The Bears, the atmosphere was strange. Nobody was dancing, nobody was talking, nobody was doing anything, except sitting there in amazement at what was happening on stage. To be honest I don't think Spencer and crew would have known the difference if there was a packed house, or just an empty wooden floor, they were completely engulfed in what they were collectively creating. Of course there was the occasional asshole screaming out "Play You Are A Runner!", which I'm sure pisses them off to no end, but for the most part, I think the crowd was just feeling lucky they were fortunate enough to know someone that tipped them off about this show. All talented musicians, the drummer and guitarist swapped instruments on almost every song, and they both impressed me equally.

Nothing quite sums up the energy and dynamics of a Sunset Rubdown performance like these two songs. From the first note struck on the keyboard, you can feel something building, and find yourself waiting for the barrier holding this music back to break and spill itself onto the crowd. Shut Up I Am Dreaming is highly recommended. I've included bonus tracks for reference, if you don't own Apologies To The Queen Mary by now, you should really re-evaluate your spending habits.

Grab Tix to the upcoming show at the Middle East in Cambridge, MA on Sat, Sept 23

MP3: Sunset Rubdown - Stadiums and Shrines II
Sunset Rubdown's Website
Buy Shut Up I Am Dreaming

MP3: Sunset Rubown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming Of Places Where Lovers Have Wings
Sunset Rubdown's Website
Buy Shut Up I Am Dreaming

Bonus MP3: Wolf Parade - I'll Believe In Anything
Wolf Parade's Myspace
Buy Apologies To The Queen Mary

Bonus MP3: Gary Numan - M.E.
Gary Numan's Website
Buy Pleasure Principal <-- Yes, "Cars" is on it! (An excellent album too)

Although this isn't my first run-in with Junior Boys, it is the first time I've heard their record front to back, and I must admit, their new release, So This Is Goodbye really took me by surprise. This album rides atop the apex of a wave of electronic music (The Knife, MSTRKRFT, James Figurine, etc.) I've been partaking in lately, in hopes of expanding my musical palette.

Jeremy Greenspan's smooth, laid back vocals over electronic landscapes, flavor each of the 10 tracks on So This Is Goodbye in 10 unique ways. I'm having a hard time coming up with a good description of this sound, if you haven't figured that out already, but I found the Pitchfork review to be particularly well written, so check it out. Here are a few of my favorite tracks from So This Is Goodbye, one of my favorites of 2006 so far, and a purchase worthy of your hard earned money.

MP3: Junior Boys - FM
Junior Boys Website
Buy So This Is Goodbye

MP3: Junior Boys - Like A Child
Junior Boys Website
Buy So This Is Goodbye

Bonus: Since I referenced a few other bands I haven't reviewed here yet, I figured I'd include something for your sampling pleasure.

MP3: James Figurine - Leftovers
James Figurine Website
Buy Mistake, Mistake, Mistake, Mistake

MP3: MSTRKRFT - Easy Love <-- Robot Voice = Always A Good Choice.
MSTRKRFT Website
Buy The Looks