Useless Clatter...First Cuts/Demos- Tennis, Cults, The Brian Jonestown Massacre

      Like a writer's rough draft, a song goes through countless edits and re-edits as demos before the finished product finds itself on an album.  Sometimes big changes are made once a band is settled into the recording studio and begin to play. The Rolling Stones originally wanted "Start Me Up" to have a more reggae feel to it, until four years in the recording studio turned it into the song we know and love today.  In most cases though, it's just a tweak or two that comes by way of the producer or sound engineer meant to "clean up" a song and give it a crisp finish.  These demo tracks, or first cuts as they are sometimes called, often get tossed out and forgotten once the band discovers the perfect sound, records it and calls it a day.  

      In some cases, bands save their demos and first cuts to be released as promotional material for a forthcoming album.  The songs are let free into the realms of the internet and find their way onto various music blogs, tabloids and websites taken as evidence for what to expect next from the band.  We sit and listen to these first cuts as the band heads back to the studio to work the final nooks and crannies for another, better release.

[Personally I enjoy the Tennis demo versions better than the actual album tracks]

TENNIS
demo/first Cut                                                                          released on CAPE DORY  [2011]

demo/first Cut                                                                           released on CAPE DORY  [2011]

                                

CULTS
demo/first Cut                                                                         released on CULTS  [2011]

                               

THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE
released on TAKE IT FROM THE MAN  [1996]                         re-released on STRUNG OUT IN HEAVEN  [1998]
                               

Useless Clatter...2012 Album Releases [June]

Here's a general list of the albums I am most excited to hear when they release in June.  Its a good mix of new bands with debuts (Friends, solo Glen Hansard) as well as some veteran rockers breaking a sleepy hiatus (Smashing Pumpkins, Neil Young + Crazy Horse).  I even threw DMX up on the list too for some good fun, despite the fact that his music is still angry as hell.  It's all fun and anyways even without DMX,  June looks to be a terrific month for music.

June 5
Crocodiles – Endless Flowers

Friends – Manifest!

Useless Clatter..."Slow Jam News" Jimmy Fallon feat. Barack Obama

      I almost didn't post this because in my head I wasn't sure if I considered this music.  Up there with the Black Keys and Beach House, I thought this video wouldn't fit well with the original reasons I started a blog on in the first place.  I was also telling myself that posting this video would be partaking in the on-going interet war on politics.  And the last thing I want to be is political.  But what the heck, this is hilarious. Besides, if I really wanted to I could just go ahead and tag this as The Roots.  And this was too good to pass up.  

      On his show "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," Fallon hosts a recurring segment called "Slow Jam The News" in which he delivers the week's tops stories to the back beat of hip hop artists The Roots.  Its gotta nice little groove to it and yesterday President Obama payed the NBC studios a visit and did the song with Fallon and the Roots live on Late Night.  The President used his time in the song to talk about his promise to keep students loans down after recent news has resurfaced surrounding the oncoming July 1 expiration date of Stafford Loans, the country's largest federal student lending program.  This would result in an increase in student loan prices, up to a $1,000s more.
      Whether you like him or not, you have to admit he  delivered it here along with The Roots and their groovy rendition of "Hail to the Chief."  Those guys can really break it down.  Despite the humorous intention of the skit, the President was still touching on some very serious issues.  He  hardly cracking a smile at Fallon's remarks, "Preezy of the United Steezy" and "the Barackness Monster." He is pretty cool.
      "Lets keep the rates down on college loans," spelled out in a slow jam by President Obama himself.  I'm with you on that Mr. President.  [I didn't want to mention his squeak at the end, but its there: 4:28]

                       

Useless Clatter...New Category For '"Review"'

In my experience, when an artist of my liking comes out with a new album I always seek it out, regardless of what critics say.  Whether Pitchfork or Rolling Stone give it a 9 or a 3 doesn’t matter because in most cases, my previous attachment to the band gives me reason to accepting the new material regardless of public opinion. 

      That being said, I am introducing a new category on TUNEclatter titled “Review.”  It’s important that the word contain those quotations because as I previously stated, I don’t stand by reviews of music as much as I do for movies.  What I will begin to attempt with this new category is not to give the album a rating as much as I would like to comment on the new material in terms of its sound comparison with the artist’s previously released album. 

      On my other blog, FILMclatter, I have a category titled ‘Why See This’ in which I state the reasons why I believe a particular movie is worth seeing.  In other words, I would rather just promote the movies and music I love as opposed to giving a mark of criticism to everything I can.  There are plenty of people out there doing the same thing, so I see any effort of my own to be rather trivial. 

      Above all though, I have always found myself interested in looking at the particular change in style a band encompasses over the years and therefore feel that comparing albums in that matter is a much more noteworthy thing for me to write about as opposed to shelling out the 100^th review of an album months after its release. 

+ The first albums that will be “reviewed” then will be from the San Francisco indie band, Girls. Their two albums being Father, Son, Holy Ghost from last September and their debut feature, Album, from 2010.

Useless Clatter...2012 Album Releases [Apr+May]

      Now that March is coming to an end, I see that my most anticipated albums of 2012 post- (Jan-Feb-Mar) is becoming a bit useless.  So I’ve finally found some time to browse about the web aimlessly and put together Part II of the list which includes April and May.  Despite only being two months, it’s packed very tightly with plenty of new releases from some of my favorites like Best Coast, The Dandy Warhols, and The Brain Jonestown Massacre [and that’s not even counting the Willow Smith album out on April 3^rd]  I've also seen the convenient release from bands I have recently discovered like Alabama Shakes and Father John Misty, who I literally discovered this morning.  

      I couldn’t find many for June at this point [plenty of rumors] but figured I would wait a bit and post that later.  Of course, if I missed anyone important or you feel generous enough to send a complimentary recommendation my way feel free.

+ Album artwork and preview tracks/singles will be updated when the info arrives.

April 3
Of Monsters & Men- My Head is an Animal
 

April 10
Alabama Shakes- Boys & Girls

 

Useless Clatter...[Hear This] Brian Jonestown Massacre Announce New Album + Latest Single "Blue Order New Monday"

      I wouldn't be going out on a limb in saying that The Brian Jonestown Massacre could be the most diverse band out there right now.  But whether that's because of the numerous genres they've tapped into throughout the years or just due to the immense line up changes that have come their way, The Brian Jonestown Massacre are truly in a class of their own.  Those of you who've seen DiG! know what I'm talking about. But to base the band's reputation solely on the hot headed temper of band leader Anton Newcombe is a bit one sided.  Maybe he is a little wacky, but the stuff he and his band-mates put together in the studio completely makes up for it.

      On that note, I am thrilled to report the news of a new BJM album to be released May 7th called Aufheben.  As of late, Anton's made his home in Berlin so its not completely bizarre to see the German word appears as the album's title.  And thanks to the possibilities of web translation, I've tracked down the meaning of the word which now leads to an assortment of interpretations on why he chose that word.  Aufheben (pronounced auf+he•ben) is a verb lending itself to a variety of actions- 'to pick up, to abolish, to lift, to reverse, to capture to preserve' to name a few.  Anton could have had any number of these in mind when choosing the word and unfortunately I don't think we'll ever  know what he truly intended.  But that's alright because the greater concern, as it always is with a new BJM album, is what the stuff will sound like.  Thankfully we won't have to wait until May because with this news came the release of the first single from Aufheben titled "Blue Order/New Monday." 

Useless Clatter...Best Coast Unveils Artwork For Upcoming Album

      Bethany Cosentino takes everything us non-Californians crave during these cold winter months and shoves it in our faces.  You and I both know we would too if we lived in sunshine all year round.  But we don't.    We see snow.  Seriously, I feel like the only time I ever see those "Visit California" commercials on TV is during the dead of winter.  Sometimes they really are tough to watch. And I have to admit when Best Coast shuffles its way into my ear-buds during these cold months I have to press next because I know that when I walk out the door I won't be wearing sandals, holding a surfboard on my way to the beach.

      But despite the envy and seasonal ignoring I embark on every winter with Best Coast, that can all end soon enough.  And I really shouldn't be complaining because this has been one of the warmest winters on record but, nonetheless when I wake up, I'm not in California.  And its perfect timing for Bethany and company to release the some news about their forthcoming sophomore album titled "The Only Place" [I wonder what that's a reference too...]  The album comes out May 14th and recently Bethany has been so kind as to release the album's and art work.

Useless Clatter..."Lonely Boy" vs. "Gold On The Ceiling"

      For all that really mattered, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney could have named their band "The Black Sheep."  Besides being relatively close to their actual name, The Black Keys, the band has always seemed to be the weird sibling in the family of modern rock 'n roll.  Not distinctly alternative rock that's heard on the radio or what used to be the antithesis of radio rock, indie rock- no The Black Keys are more intractable than that.  Along with Jack White's White Stripes, The Black Keys emerged as one of the top outputs of the 90s generation.  Their music was of the simpler sound, bent on catchy riffs and basic drum taps, echoing the early days of blues rock.  Both seemed to get by on the bare bones of rock 'n roll.

      And with the recent break up of The White Stripes, and Jack White constantly managing a handful of other projects, The Black Keys appear to be the front runner of this modern off-beat rock, until recently.   The Black Keys remained primarily under the radar through their first five albums but found recent mainstream success in 2010's Brothers and their latest album El Camino which recently held the #2 spot on the Billboard 200.  While The Black Key's made their name on raw blues-like rhythms, their latest efforts, especially El Camino, seem to be merging their old selves with styles reminiscent of  some of today's pop music.

      The two songs I had in mind were actually the album's two singles, "Lonely Boy" and "Gold on the Ceiling," and I can see why they were selected. If pop artists like Lady Gaga can have successful, catchy songs, why can't rock bands have the same?These two songs are faster, more up beat tracks that have you tapping your foot along in rhythm before you realize it.  To add, the lyrics seem more frequent and casual where singing along is encouraged and with that going you have a hit.  In this case, The Black Keys have two, those of which I can't decide which I like better.  Which do you prefer?

"Lonely Boy"- A Black Keys album has never started off sounding like this.  For El Camino  "Lonely Boy" replaces the drawn out, woeful sounding riffs in exchange for a flashy, confident set of notes that seem only appropriate to dance to.  Melodic chants and catchy yet simple refrains made this song an instant radio hit and setting the bar high for the album's remaining tracks.

"Gold on the Ceiling"- "Lonely Boy" really met its match with this song.  Dan and Pat revert back to their traditional garage rock sounds with a little bit of flair. Synthesized guitars lead the way while an organ chimes out subtly behinds its chorus.  Just like "Lonely Boy," this song's distinct and powerful refrain has a sing-a-long feel to it that'll have your approval in no time.

Useless Clatter...TUNEclatter Presents FILMclatter

      Yes the title is a bit redundant in its use of 'clatter' but it’s all I could think of and in the end, gets the point across.  Besides this blog, I actually run another one so I figured I could give a shout here to promote it.  Instead of music, the topic on FILMclatter is of course movies.  If anything you read here amuses you, check out FILMclatter.  The only difference between the two is their subjects and color way. Literally everything else, from their layout down to the specific categories, is essentially the same.

      Why I ended up going with two blogs I'm not really sure. For one, posting on the same page would make me look like a better blogger, having new posts more frequently. Music and movies together would make me look more eclectic too, oh well. (I guess here’s my redeeming chance then.) Regardless, I decided to separate the two and here they stand without regret. In the end, I guess it's the same reasoning for having two e-mail accounts- I feel more important checking them both.

      So if movies interest you as well, check it out- filmclatter.blogspot.com

Useless Clatter...2012 Album Releases (Jan-Mar)

      What many people look forward to in the New Year is the idea of a fresh start.  The physical act of swapping last year’s calendar, covered in ink and scribble marks of varying importance in exchange for a brand new, never been touched replacement can be both reassuring and gratifying.  Resolutions are made and become one’s priority for the next couple weeks (or days...) in an effort to begin the new year on the right foot.  Regardless, the new year always comes forth with its fair share of optimism. 

      For me, the joy of a new year comes in the form of music.  New artists will be found, making their mark on 2012, as well as albums from old time favorites discovered in years before.  I was in sixth grade when I was first introduced to the idea that the only two things certain in life are death and taxes.  Be that as it may, I have compiled below a list of albums whose release dates have been certified by various sources around the web.  The albums below are those that I am most looking forward to in the first three months of the new year- albums from bands that already make up my IPod. 

Of course, recommendations of similar artists not found on this list are always appreciated as the whole point of this blog is discovering music.

+ Updates, singles and other album previews will surely follow

Useless Clatter...Mysterious Black Keys Dancer Revealed

A few weeks ago I posted the Black Key's new single 'Lonely Boy' with a goofy video of a man dancing and lip singing the entire song to perfection. Well fame arose from this man's moves as he appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show recently for an interview and dance demo with Ellen. His name is Derrick Tuggle and apparently he is a struggling actor pursuing his dreams and trying to make it big in Hollywood- quite a guy. I still say he's an excellent dancer. See for yourself.

Useless Clatter...R.E.M. Calls It Quits

Unfortunately its true, after 31 years, legendary rockers R.E.M. officially disbanded today via a post on their website. Here's a quick stint of what was said-
 "To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening." R.E.M.

More can be heard from each of the members at their website-                                           http://remhq.com/news_story.php?id=1446

Members of the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame, R.E.M. definitely made their mark on the rock scene. To many, they are cited as the ones who developed rock into "alternative" defining themselves amongst New Wave and Post-Punk counterparts of the '80s. In total R.E.M released 15 albums, most recently "Collapse Into Now" (2011) and have won 3 Grammy Awards.