2010 Twitter Review Session #10

(149) Horse Power EP - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. (Quite Scientific)
Terrible band name, but a solid first effort from these subtle Detroit electronic pop craftsmen. (6.5/10)

(150) As Stowaways in Cabinets of Surf, We Live-Out in Our Members a Kind of Rebirth - Half-Handed Cloud (Asthmatic Kitty)
Friend of Sufjan releases his first LP since 2006 and while fun and nice, it is way too silly for me. (6/10)

(151) Lisbon - The Walkmen (Fat Possum)
Yet another classic Walkmen record. These guys have to be one of the best bands so far this century, right? (8.5/10)

(152) Public Strain - Women (Jagjaguwar)
The follow-up to their incredible debut is a slow burner that reveals more with each listen. It is also incredible. (8.5/10)

(153) Crush - Abe Vigoda (Bella Union/PPM)
Really great, new-to-me art punks trade in their guitar noodling for some 80s sounds and more wailing vox. GOOD. (7/10)

(154) Of Gold - Bars of Gold (Friction)
Ex-Bear Vs. Shark + members of Detroit's Wildcatting = the third BvS LP that could've happened? Solid. (6.5/10)

(155) Penny Sparkle - Blonde Redhead (4AD)
Melodramatic and TOTALLY boring. Where the hell is the awesome drumming from all their previous albums? (5/10)

(156) Tall Hours in the Glowstream - Cotton Jones (Suicide Squeeze)
2009's LP from this lad 'n' lass from Page France was a pleasant surprise. This is more like what I expected. (5/10)

(157) Liz, Ryan & Sean EP - Friendly Foes (self-released)
Detroit students of Superchunk end their short run with two really great songs and two forgettables. (6/10)

(158) Ophelia 7" - Minks (Captured Tracks)
Another group of 80s gothic new wave revivalists on Captured Tracks. No Wild Nothing, but these songs are still good. (7/10)

(159) Divorce Music - Ian Saylor (self-released)
The Rants singer/songwriter and his newest solo effort. Still pop genius, but slightly too ballad heavy. (6.5/10)

(160) Marnie Stern - Marnie Stern (Kill Rock Stars)
Like guitar noodling and drum wanking? Stern's newest offers the best of both of those. Totes badass. (7.5/10)

(161) South Carolina 7" - Tennis (Fire Talk)
Neither of these indie pop songs are better than "Baltimore," but overall I like this is better than that 7". (7.5/10)

Women/DD/MM/YYY/Marco Polio and the New Vaccines @ The Magic Stick, 9/28/10

Bands don't really come and play Detroit anymore. However, this fall, things seem different, and there already have been and also will be some really great lineups hitting up the various venues. The one I was most looking for: Women, one of the absolute best newer bands around, playing the Magic Stick.

Detroit's own Marco Polio and the New Vaccines started the night off. To be completely honest, I was too busy not caring, and instead showed up a little late and talked to friends instead of paying attention. I'll tell you what, though, they were loud, obnoxious and very synthy. Meh. I'm not even going to extend any more effort to explain any further. I will say that I've read on some Detroit music blogs that they are one of the most "entertaining" local bands around these days. Thing is, I just want to watch bands that have released albums that I like play quality versions of songs from those albums. That's all.

Anyway, Women's support on this leg of their tour was DD/MM/YYYY, whom I had no expectations whatsoever for. Turns out, they were really sweet. They had that whole one-and-one-fourth drumkit split between two dudes thing going, and there was some impressive and confusing polyrhythm stuff going on. The songs were sort of there. They were interesting, and there were some cool melodies, guitar and synth work, but the main appeal was the unhinged energy in their sound. And also, the main drummer was INCREDIBLE, and an absolute blast to watch.

This was a special night for Women, as it was the very date of the American release of their new album, Public Strain. I was hoping they were going to begin their set with the ambient opener from that album, "Can't You See," but instead they came right out with the poppiest track, "Narrow With the Hall," which was more than acceptable. They did eventually play "Can't You See," and other highlights from the new album were "Heat Distraction," "Drag Open" and the immaculate closer, "Eyesore," which they played very fast. In fact, they played most of their songs fast. Something I like about their albums is how they are chaotic and have this semi-punk attitude about them, but most of their songs are slow or at fastest mid-tempo. It was fun to seem them play everything considerably faster.

Unsurprisingly, the best moments of the night were during the performances of songs from their 2008 self-titled debut. They played most of the greats ("Cameras" and "Group Transport Hall" being unfortunately omitted). "Lawncare" was especially disorienting and awesome, and the awesomely plodding pace of their "hit," "Black Rice," was replaced with a sense of urgency, almost as if the band wanted to hurry and get it over with. "Upstairs," which is just a nice little ditty, transitioned into "Sag Harbor Bridge," which has some insanely fast guitar playing as is. Thankfully "Shaking Hand," probably my favorite Women song, was played as well, and everyone in the band actually plays fast for that jam, so times that by 1.25 or something, I guess.

Seeing the band Women live is an interesting and wonderful experience. Their records are more than just lo-fi recordings. The use of tape and shitty equipment and stuff really does contribute a lot to the feel and sound of their songs, sort of acting like extra instruments on their own. But live, the songs are just balls out. Crazy distortion, lots of scratching and scraping guitar sounds, barely audible vocals, but nice, crisp sounding drums as opposed to charmingly shitty and overdriven ones. Actually, at the Magic Stick, everything but the drums sounded exactly like they do on record.

God, I love this band.