Secret Secret They’ve Got a Secret [EDIT]

Just a couple quick things:

The new Muse album, Black Holes and Revelations, is streaming at their myspace (via).  And y’know what?

It’s a Styx record.

That’s not a good thing.

I liked Absolution.  A lot.  I even liked the lunkheaded single from Revelations, “Supermassive Black Hole.”  But the CD is a thing from which no heat, light, or thought can escape.  There’s gravity on display – my jaw appears to be stuck on the floor – but at its best, it’s very, very unintentionally funny.  I think “Invincible” might even be a reworking of “Do They Know it’s Christmas?”

Domo arigato, myspace.  Saved me a Hamilton.

*

Want to hear a good record, instead?  The latest from Devendra-sideman Andrew Vetiver is streaming on his site.  I don’t like most of the freak-folk folks; I’ve been liking this.  Gawrsh, it’s pretty:

Vetiver - I Know No Pardon (mp3)

Listen to the rest, then buy it.

*

Needless reissues suck, but I was stumbling over people to pick up the “Legacy Edition” of Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend.  Why?  The second disc of the 2-CD set is Good Friend, an old radio promo featuring live/acoustic performances of the same songs (plus the then-yet-to-be-released “Someone to Pull the Trigger,” and covers of Neil Young (“Cortez the Killer,” with the Indigo Girls) and John Lennon (“Isolation”)... and while Girl is great, Good is better.

I had Good on cassette, back when I had tapes and tapes and things in which to play them.  While it’s probably been available as a bootleg, it’s nice to have a good clean copy back in my collection.

Matthew Sweet – Thought I Knew You (live)(mp3) (buy)

Great pop/rock songs, gorgeous guitar work from Voidoid Robert Quine and Television’s Richard Lloyd.  Totally worth your $20.99.

*

And:

Tonight’s the last night of O’Death’s residency at Pete’s Candy Store.  Sure, it’s only the busiest concert week ever (well, until next week)... but we’re going to have to stop taking these guys for granted.  Two more area shows after tonight, and they’re on the road.

Tomorrow night, there’s a blog-battle to the death (well, not really):  Brooklyn Vegan has a show in some secret Todd P. hidey-hole; Ear Farm’s hoisting some blarney down at Sin-é.

The mysterious and elusive Endless Boogie – past guests of Todd P and his secret hidey-hole – have slipped on to the schedule at a couple actual venues.  Scary.  They only play when asked; folks must be askin’.  On July 9th they’ll be at the Knitting Factory, opening for wowie-zowie Japanese psychsters Yura Yura Teikoku.  Tickets are here; after you’ve dried off from Stereogum’s Les Savy Fav pool party, head on over.  July 21st they’ll be at the Mercury Lounge with local alt-country boys Oakley Hall.

One of these days, those boys’ll get a website.  And a blog.  And then, they can curate their own damn show.

*

Remember that Steven Seagal show I mentioned?  Angela - bless her brave heart - actually went.  And there's a review up on Yeti.

It's the most important thing you'll read on the Internet today.

tags: matthew sweet  endless boogie  odeath  muse  steven seagal  vetiver  

links: digg this    del.icio.us    reddit