11, or, In Attack of Liars, In Defense of The Walkmen

for the records offers a proper review of last tuesday's Walkmen show, and I'm having a little trouble finding any much documentation of the Liars show from last week. anybody?

ANYWAYS, I called Liars a crock of shit in my last post because I really can't say they were able to win me over, almost at all after their show at Lee's. Drum's Not Dead has been hailed as the album of 2006 so far, but with it I see many parallels with the Fiery Furnaces' Blueberry Boat, which received similar acclaim upon its release, only to be close to forgotten now. I question the people that have been won over by them and what their motives are, as I did for FF a couple of years back, after seeing their own somewhat lacklustre live show at the Mod Club.

And if the Liars have a greatest sin, it's not that they're difficult, abrasive, or avant garde (though they fit the bill in all 3 of those), it's that they're forgettable. Frontman Angus Andrew is a giant, hairy beast of a man who is certainly a remarkably creative, if (as he would admit, onstage drug involved ) fellow, but who will surely be known more in the long run for his relationship with the YYYs Karen O than anything else. Liars are a band of the moment, and will be hard pressed to live out the decade.

The Walkmen, on their part, are riding the waves of a less-than-loved (so far) follow up to Bows and Arrows, which for me over time has creeped in and become one of my favourite albums, period. Believe me, I can go on and on and their last show at Lee's touring that record (back in '04 or so) really blew me away as everything was much louder and intense, yet still reeking of the misery that permeates B&W. On Tuesday some of the new material certainly came off really well, and the set was full of it, though current favourite Lousiana was a fabulous disappointment thanks to a very flat trumpet. It was also sort of a flat night with a half-empty room and a rather flaccid crowd, but in spite of that, it just seems like these guys are bringing a lot more to the table than the Liars' current indie cred godliness.

The Liars are a crock of shit (mostly)

video at 11.

3 hours

of humid, sweaty sleep probably ain't going to enough to cut it today.


















.

like a year ago

I was so young and idealistic.

things haven't changed much, looking back at last june. nxne, golden dogs, mmvas, BSS island show etc etc is anything really all that different?

Well, Kickball has certainly changed my routine a lot, what with Sunday games and Tuesday practices and a very exciting Brooklyn tournament a few weeks away. A slew of new friends and acquaintances from that posse is also a really cool thing too. The new neighbourhood, despite some boorish current World Cup-related antics, has been a blast as well.

Like last year, the MMVA stage is up in the parking lot, but no Arcade Fire in the house this year. I'll have to settle for Metric and Paris. not bad.

the letter V

V

VVVV





V.

note to self

be sure to leave schedule open for Saturday September 9/06













the WHOLE day.

Polaris

was, like chromewaves, at the launch event yesterday for the Polaris Music Prize, an interesting new development touted as Canada's own version of the Nationwide Mercury Prize, which has to its own credit done a great job at raising the profile for developing artists in the UK.

The title sponsor is still in works for Polaris (I suppose the snowmobile manufacturer isn't interested in an easy tie-in), but is said to be a "major media company" which prompted talk yesterday of it being of the Roger/Bell/CHUM ilk being the frontrunners.

One hopes that these negotiations include a multi-year deal from said (or rather unsaid) sponsor, so that this can over the long run really accomplish building exposure for so many artists here that deserve more attention than say, Juno nominee (sigh) Rex Goudie.

I couldn't help but noticing that the juror list is very similar to that employed by eye for their own annual critic's poll, which then suggests BSS will be a clear frontrunner in the ranks...but we all knew that anyways.

...