475. PUSA - presidents of the united states of america 2

475.PUSApusa2,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

Unfortuantely the band's second release lacks a lot of the charm the debut had. Sure they are talented musicians, but who wants to hear half way decent songs with flat, bland lyrics? We all have friends in a band we can go see to hear that.

5 out of 10

474. PUSA - presidents of the united states of america

474.PUSAself,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

This album is classic chad/doug/jason era... not that we listened to it that much (I actually recall listening to it only once with them), but it was when we were at the height of our slackerness if that's a word. PUSA are a three piece featuring the drummer from Love Battery that I covered back in the grunge section. All in all this isn't a bad debut - the songs are funny, or at least amusing at times - and song wise the trio pull off enough changes to keep you interested. Features their big hit 'Lump'. Oh, they also cover 'Kick out the Jams' which has to be the most covered song in the world - I like the song but never understood why bands love it so much. I remember hearing the original off of Sarah back in high school and I wasn't impressed then either,
Body
7 out of 10

473. Mates Of State - team boo

473.MOSteamboo,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

More of the same from our fellow mates, but better. Tighter, more melodic and a tad sadder. Not really prankster pop I guess - sounds funny but it really isn't.

The posts have been slow because of the mix. Will be back up to speed next week.

Ha Ha

7 out of 10

472. Mates Of State - my solo project

472.MOSmysoloproject,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

Joe introduced me to these guys. I like them, I wish I could say I love them, but I can't. What makes them unique also makes them tough to listen to for too long. A guy, a girl, a drum kit and an organ. They pull off some great fun tracks with such little, but I just can't do it all the time. Thankfully the album is short, and works best on a sunny day while you're getting ready to head outside.

Sam, from the mix club, did a video for them along with his brother, Mike G.
Sammy G's and Mike G's video off of 'Team Boo' the MOS next album

6.5 out of 10

471. Cake - comfort eagle

471.Ccomforteagle,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

Cake improves on their sound on this major label release. Cake's main songwriter left the band prior to this album and it shows. At times they sound like a version of themselves in 80's, less indie and more casio. A welcomed change.

For those who can only think of themselves:
World Of Two

8 out of 10

470. Cake - prolonging the magic

470.Cprolongingthemagic,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

Cake literally are attempting to prolong the magic from their prior release here. The album sounds like a rehash of past formulas, almost like outtakes from the previous disc. It isn't until the last two tracks that the band starts to step a bit beyond their comfort zone and explore, of course a tad too late.

7 out of 10

469. Cake - fashion nugget

469.Cfashionnugget,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

This was the first Cake album I heard and probably for the majority of people out there as wel,l given it had their minor hit 'The Distance'. My place had just been robbed, I moved out quickly and my then girlfriend and I had just broken up so it was quite a week. I temporarily moved into Meadow's place (he was actually going to move into my place before it got robbed). I think I was there for 2 weeks or so and his apartment was a studio, just a room and bathroom, no kitchen. A lot of times he was off with Natalie and I'd sit around playing Tetris listening to his cd's since all of mine were in storage. This disc really struck a chord with me back then and I listened to it over and over again - so it became a very unlikely break up record for me. The band grabs what worked so well on 'Motorcade' and truly build on it. A gem in its genre.

Here's one for when you're tired of hearing the same bullshit story/excuses:
Nugget

8.5 out of 10

468. Cake - motorcade of generosity

468.Cmotorcadeofgenerosity,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

Another band I have Meadows to thank for (more on that when we talk about 'Fashion Nugget'). Cake is a fun band that you can put on and not pay attention to, but ultimately grabs your attention. They do so with witty lyrics, random beats, horns that creep up and a slew of throwback guitar riffs. In other words their shit is funny and entertaing.

Here's a track in keeping with our breakup theme this month:
Ain't No Good

8 out of 10

467. Ween - chocolate and cheese

467.Wchocolateandcheese,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

I first heard Ween when I was at Fred's doing the usual - he had Pure Guava on tape and it sounded really fucked up. I think it was the first time I had heard something so low fi be so intricate. Anyway getting this made sense given my reaction to Guava. 'C&C' is an eclectic and funny disc filled with accents, drum machines, long solos and nostalgia. Definitely worth picking up if you want an introduction to the band. Meadows knows a great deal about them more than I do.

And here's something for that special someone you once loved
Baby Bitch

8 out of 10

466. The Go! Team - thunder, lightning, strike

466.TGTthunder,lightning,strike,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

I resisted TGT for a long time not because I purposely avoid bands which are receiving a ton of hype, that's bullshit and I hate people who'll dismiss a band because of all the media attention. I resisted because my friends were really into them and I figured that with the mix project I have going on and all the mp3 blogs out there I'd be able to hear enough and judge before buying the album. Well I did and I liked it but something about the production bothered me. The entire album sounds a bit tinny, like the treble is up way too high and the bass has been pulled out. Once I accepted that the album sounds like this I was able to really enjoy it like a long lost frantic soundtrack to a bunch of great ideas we all thought we've had at one point or another. I picked it up used and was immediately disappointed a day later when I found out the domestic release was coming out with bonus tracks for roughly the same price. But I then found out that due to copyright issues some samples were replaced, so I'm happy to have the original version. Also this disc too is in the wrong category, it's going into my 'mixed media/pyschedelia' area.

8.5 out of 10

465. Bettie Serveert - something so wild

465.BSsomethingsowild,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

So this was the ep I was talking about earlier that has the Pavement cover of 'Trigger Cut' - I am a sucker for covers especially from labelmates. The disc also contains a BBC session version of 'Crutches' and 'Stanley Park'. The other two tracks are okay at best.

I have an orange coat like the one the guy on the left is wearing.

5 out of 10

464. Bettie Serveert - dust bunnies

464.BSdustbunnies,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

'Dust Bunnies' is a great, great 'pleasant' album filled with melodies that easily enter and escape, making it more enjoyable than memorable. Also I realize these guys are in the wrong category, there is nothing funny about them... maybe they should be in sweet pop or just plain indie.

7 out of 10

463. Bettie Serveert - palomine

463.BSpalomine,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

I remember seeing a video by these guys on 120 Minutes and thinking 'they're on the same label as Pavement? But they sound gay'... years later I picked up a single of theirs for a Pavement cover that was on it and surprisingly like the other two tracks on it as well... so I ventured out, and got another single and full length (which were both heavily discounted, so it wasn't that great of an adventure)... and? I really like this disc. It contains the single 'Palomine', a bside called 'Silent Spring (temporary version)' and the album version of 'Palomine (small)'.

Palomine

6.5 out of 10

Happy New Year

I remember this time last year I claimed that I would have gone through my entire collection by now. I realize that it is probably going to take me at least two years to finish this thing, but what's the rush anyway. I am not going to bore you with an end of year list mainly because although there were some good releases nothing really grabbed me like in years past. Instead I am finally posting a ton of tracks that were supposed to go up with the last handful of reviews.


The Killing Moon
from Pavement's single "Major Leagues"


Church On White
from Stephen Malkmus' self titled debut


1% Of One
from Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks' "Pig Lib"


Dynamic Calories
from Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks' "Dark Wave" ep, included with certain copies of "Pig Lib"


Inbetween days
from Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks' live in Cologne Germany 04.07.03 bootleg

462. Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - live in Cologne Germany 04.07.03 (bootleg)

Another great sounding bootleg, so good that a live track from the bonus cd on 'Pig Lib' features a track from this show. The set sounds very personal and intimate - either the source is directly from the soundboard and it didn't pick up any external noise or the Germans are a very quiet bunch. Features tracks from Malkmus' self titled debut and 'Pig Lib'. The show ends with a series of covers and a ten minute medley covers ranging from 'Born on the Bayou' to 'Today'. Fun show.

7.5 out of 10

461. Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Live in Malmo Sweden 02.10.01 (bootleg)

A solid set by Malkmus playing tracks off of his self titled debut and a couple of tracks off of the unreleased 'Pig Lib'. You can tell that the Jicks were coming into formation not only through the playing but also the stage banter. Great sound quality.

6.5 out of 10