Please note that the zip file has a password on it: Q85
All files available from this link: http://www.mediafire.com/?ea84z7u4jyza4zz
Q’s Compilations
Volume #85 – August
– September 2012
Hello!
This compilation has a theme to it, and a rather self-indulgent one. It has
been a fantastic summer here mainly for one reason, the sheer volume of
spectacular free concerts that are hosted in this fair city, this mix features
bands that I have seen over the course of the year so far and not had to pay a
penny. The mix still manages to omit an impressive roster of artists who I
managed to see and many others who I did not (Funkadelic!).
01)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Higher Than the Stars: I’ve feature Pains…
on a few mixes over the years, but have so far not featured any tracks from
their EP, Higher Than the Stars (this
of course, being the title track). The band played Central Park Summer Stage on
a sweltering day that also featured Cloud Nothings, The War on Drugs and Guided
By Voices. “This time you should have
stopped. But where’s the fun?”
02)
Frankie Rose – Night Swim: I’d heard a few songs over the last few months, but
probably nothing that stuck in my head, but Frankie played a rather
spellbinding set at Prospect Park opening for Little Dragon. Rose has an
impressive CV, having been part of early versions of Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum
Girls and Vivian Girls. Her second solo album, Interstellar was released this year.
03)
Diiv – Doused: Another band on the excellent Captured Tracks record label, I
caught Diiv last month at Hudson River Rocks, their debut album, Oshin, is well worth an investment and I
featured a track on the last mix as well. “Act
like it stops and starts, a gesture here and there, for me is one thing, but I
felt every time you blew it”
04)
Roomrunner – Aesthetic: I used Roomrunner on the last mix, having been
impressed with their set at Hudson River Rocks, playing with John Maus and Dan
Deacon (for whom Roomrunner mainman Denny Bowen also drums).
05)
Bob Mould – The Descent: Silver Age has
just been released and coincides rather swimmingly with the 20th
anniversary of Sugar’s Copper Blue
album, which Bob played in full at an immense show in Williamsburg Park. I
reviewed the gig here: http://someothersuckersparade.blogspot.com/2012/09/bob-mould-williamsburg-park-7th-of.html and the new album is a
corker. “I started out so starry-eyed,
full of hope and wonder.”
06)
Cloud Nothings – Wasted Days: To be honest I wasn’t completely won over by
Cloud Nothings, who opened the day at the Central Park CBGB festival, whose set
was marred a little by being a bit too samey. However, drummer Jason Gerycz was
a joy to watch with his animal-like drumming and facial expressions. This song
didn’t seem to click that much live but I think I have more patience with the
recorded version, the wigout section here works.
07)
Mission of Burma - Semi-Pseudo-Sort-Of Plan: Opening for Wild Flag at Prospect
Park (which seemed to confuse a lot of people who thought it should have been
the other way around), it seemed like most of the crowd weren’t really there to
see them, but they put on a spirited performance and it was great to see them. No
Academy Fight Song in the set though!
This track is taken from their latest album, Unsound, released this year.
08)
Guided By Voices – Game of Pricks: I’m using GBV for the third time in a row,
of course, but I couldn’t put this type of theme together without including
them again! Seeing them play this song (a rare classic in a set dominated by
newer material) was a special moment. “I've
entered the game of pricks, With knives in the back of me, can't call you or on
you no more,
When they're attacking me”
When they're attacking me”
09)
Eternal Summers – You Kill: Suffering a somewhat nasty hangover, I thankfully
managed to get to Eternal Summers free show at Fulton Stall Market. which
perked me up! Unfortunately they sold their last copy of new album, Correct Behaviour (on which this song
appears) as I got to the front of the
queue, but they played a cracking set, well worth checking out. “It’s a piece, of a plot, of a story we are
not”
10)
Lee Ranaldo – Lost (Plane T Nice): I was fortunate enough to get to see
Ranaldo’s record release show for Between
the Times and the Tides, playing as an acoustic trio (drummer Steve Shelley
was gigging elsewhere) at Other Music. It’s a fine record and Lee was a
pleasure to meet afterwards. “When every
single dream requires revision”
11)
Kurt Vile – The Creature: In a case of “should have been the headliner”, Kurt
Vile opened for Dawes (who we endured for a couple of songs then decided to
leave) at Central Park. This song features on the EP So Outta Reach which was included on the deluxe edition of Smoke Ring for My Halo. “She said I'm a creature of habits, Oh,
she's so cute with her claims, Ain't got time for asking questions, So I just
nod and move on, And that's all right for me, So far, So good for me”
12)
Veronica Falls – Starry Eyes (demo): Another sweltering evening was spent at
South Street Seaport. I featured My Heart
Beats on Q#83. This track was a b-side to Found Love In a Graveyard. A lovely song to throw away as a b-side.
“Starry Eyes what can I say, Starry Eyes,
what can I do for your attention, Starry Eyes Starry Eyes forever shall be
mine”
13)
Rain Machine – Smiling Black Faces: A gloriously sunny day was had at Union
Pool (the heat made bearable by numerous $5 margaritas), which also included an
improvised set by Thurston Moore on the 9th of June. Rain Machine is
of course, Kyp Malone’s side-project from TV on the Radio, they played some new
songs which sound promising, and I got to meet Kyp afterwards and babble like
an embarrassed fanboi.
14)
Barry Adamson – Straight til Sunrise: Adamson played a set at Other Music back
in February, launching his latest album, I
Will Set You Free, it was a nice set albeit a bit karaoke (he mostly just
sang while the instrumental versions of the songs played over the speakers),
but the album is good. This track is from the previous record, Back to the Cat. “In my head was every word that was said, Reverberating with consonants
baiting me, I wish I had done what I said I would”
15)
Grimes – Vanessa: Grimes appears to be this year’s hipster sensation, in truth
I find the record a little lacking (and some of the fans at the show we were at
reaching unknown levels of douchebag-dom), however, some of the tunes are
pretty interesting and this one gets under your skin after a few plays. Grimes
played at Hudson River Rocks. “hey hey
wanna play well baby i can go go, and every other day you're running off the
phone, no. Well baby I would call you if I didn't know you but I'm waiting for
it”
16)
John Maus – Bennington: John Maus played the Hudson River Rocks on the 12th
of July. My wife has become slightly obsessed with Mr Maus, and I think
probably needs some professional help about it. Bennington appears on Maus’
latest release, a collection of demos, rather obviously called Collection of Rarities and Previously
Unreleased Material. Live, Maus is a bit of an enigma, what should amount
to little more than a glorified karaoke performance is oddly rather engaging. “Time and time again, I'll see her in my
dreams, Time and time again,
Time and time again”
Time and time again”
17)
Dan Deacon – Lots: Deacon headlined the show on the 12th of July at
Hudson River Rocks and put on a storming performance. Audience participation is
a big thing with Deacon (at which point, I made sure I drifted off to the
side!), dividing the audience into dance-offs and scattering them into random
directions, interspersed with random humour and heartfelt gripes at society.
He’s also backed by two drummers who perform incredibly well. “Feel like we've been here before, Without a
choice and insecure, Of where we'd be without this net around,
Yet we've always hated it”
Yet we've always hated it”
18)
Little Dragon – Blinking Pigs: Swedish electro-pop band Little Dragon provided
a bouncey evening on the 10th of August at Prospect Park, probably
not something I would pay for, but since we live close by it was a fun thing to
do, the crowd were really into it and made for a great atmosphere. “Was a distant moan, and a smell of home, Haunting
me, from the clouds above, oh the memory of, you”
19)
TV On the Radio – Keep Your Heart: Just to put the icing on the cake, I got to
see TVotR for free this year as well, heaven! They headlined the Afropunk
festival at Commodore Park on the 26th of August, they played a
great set (which also benefitted from a good sound, something that hampered the
previous two times I’d seen them). “Outside
ecstatic love, what did we think we'd find? Over that broken road,out past the
land mines.”
Like
I said, it has been a great summer here and I have truly been spoiled!
Until
next time
Peace
and love - Q
