St. Vincent on Conan

Love love love! the little tribute to Elvis Costello she does before starting her song, "Cheerleader."

The Mighty Van Halen Return

I, for one, have never liked the band Van Halen since David Lee Roth left in 1985. I never liked Van Hagar, and I never even heard the record VH did with Gary Cherone. Totally didn't care (especially since a few months before VH had released two new songs with Roth before they told him they didn't want him back in the band).

As the years wore on and VH went back to Hagar after Cherone, I assumed a full-blown reunion of the original line-up of the band was never going to happen. Until it did in 2007. Sort of. Roth came back for a tour, but bassist Michael Anthony was replaced by Edward Van Halen's son, Wolfgang. Despite the change, and the inclusion of a 17 year old in the band, I still loved the reunion tour. Van Halen was, and always will be, Edward Van Halen and David Lee Roth. They wrote all the classic songs together, and they created the sound and style that spawned a million imitators. Literally.

The band is now on the verge of releasing its first album with Roth since 1984's 1984 album. It has been a really long time. The first single and video has been released ("Tattoo") and the reaction has been mixed. When I posted it on my Facebook page, most of the comments were negative. My feeling is that it sounds like what a Van Halen in its 50s would sound like. It has been nearly 30 years since these guys were at their zenith. I, for one, did not expect the band to just zap back in time and become guys in their 20s again. No one can do that. Supposedly, much of the rest of the album is comprised of older songs the band wrote but never used back in the 70s and early 80s. I am curious to see if those sound "vintage" or more modern like "Tattoo."

The song itself is okay. The video is better. I can't help it. I just love Diamond Dave. That guy is infinitely entertaining. What do you think of the song and video?

fIREHOSE To Reunite For Coachella

Rumors had been swirling around the interweb that seminal punk/funk/folk band fIREHOSE would reunite for some concerts in 2012. The band, featuring ex-Minutemen Mike Watt and George Hurley along with Ed "fROMOHIO" Crawford, played from 1986 until 1994, and made five full length albums and two EPs.

Since the break-up of fIREHOSE, Mike Watt has rarely discussed the band, though he often still talks about Minutemen, and his solo career. George Hurley and Ed Crawford have largely disappeared from public life. According to Verbicide Magazine, a reunion show has already been booked for Sacramento, California in April. fIREHOSE is also on the schedule for this year's Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California.

So far, there is no information on any shows beyond these. Fingers crossed.

Guided By Voices On Letterman

Indie legends Guided By Voices appeared on Letterman last night. This performance is notable for many things, but probably most notable for bass player Greg Demos falling on his ass during the song.

Top 50 Albums of 2011 (10 - 1)

Male Bonding - Endless Now

10) Male Bonding - Endless Now (Sub Pop) : Endless Now is the second album from this UK trio. The band's music is a slight throwback to the noise pop of the 90s (i.e. Dinosaur Jr.); but Male Bonding give it a twist of punk and a hint of shoegaze to make it their own.

09) Maritime - Human Hearts (Dangerbird): On the fourth album from Milwaukee's Maritime, the band finally hits it on all cylinders. The band features two former members of The Promise Ring, so you know the songs will be catchy as all hell. With Human Hearts, Maritime exceeds their previous band for the first time. If it were not for the upcoming Promise Ring reunion, Maritime would finally be judged solely on its own merits. Funny how things work out like that.

08) The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar (Canvasback/Atlantic): If you are fan of the classic shoegaze bands of the early 90s (i.e. Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine), then you will no doubt find a lot to love about the debut album from Welsh trio, The Joy Formidable. As the title states, the album is a big roar...of guitars right in your face. If these guys (and gal) are this good on their debut album, imagine what will come next!

07) Tommy Stinson - One Man Mutiny (Done To Death): Stinson's second solo album is another high water mark on his post-Replacements career. Sadly, with Stinson's busy schedule (he plays in both Guns 'N Roses and Soul Asylum), there will be little promotion for this record and few will ever hear it. For this collection, Tommy still shows his appreciation for the music of The Faces; but like his previous solo record, Village Gorilla Head, Stinson shows his progress as a songwriter and musician by going beyond the range of his influences.

06) Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See (Domino): I have to say that I have no idea why Arctic Monkeys are not rock stars in America. In fact, this band could barely get arrested in most of this country, while it enjoys massive success in its native UK and much of Europe. Suck It and See, the Monkeys fourth, is chock full of singles. American radio could really use a dose of these guys in regular rotation. The band's merging of 90s indie rock with classic Britpop and the sounds of The Smiths, make for some mighty fine listening.

05) Dum Dum Girls - Only In Dreams (Sub Pop): Dum Dum Girls debut album, I Will Be, was #47 in my Top 50 of 2010. In retrospect, it should have been higher. Regardless, for the second album, Only In Dreams, the group continues in the same vein as the debut (classic 60's girl group mixed with garage rock) but exceeds it to a great degree. The elements are all the same, but the writing is what propels this record and what makes it stronger than the already stellar debut.

04) Middle Brother - Middle Brother (Partisan): Very is an artist's "side project" on par with its main project, so consider Middle Brother an exception to the rule. A major exception. The group consists of John J. McCauley III of Deer Tick, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, and Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit - all fantastic bands in their own right. The combination of the three is fantastic and the music does not come across as that of three solo artists working together (as, say, Monsters of Folk did), but of a group of guys who have played together for years. Fans of Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, and The Replacements will thoroughly enjoy this record. Speaking of The Replacements, Middle Brother an amazing cover of that band's 1989 outtake, "Portland." It is unbelievably awesome.

03) Wilco - The Whole Love (Anti): Wilco's The Whole Love continues the band's decade and a half creative hot streak with yet another powerful and beautiful collection of Jeff Tweedy songs. Excluding the album's epic opener, "Art of Almost," and its twelve + minute closer, "One Sunday Morning (song for Jane Smiley's boyfriend)," any of these songs would fit in perfectly on rock or classic rock radio. They sound instantly timeless. Wilco is, perhaps, the greatest band of the current era, yet few people outside of the indie/alternative world know them due to a nearly total radio boycott. Sad. 

2) Deer Tick - Divine Providence (Partisan): I had been hearing a lot about Providence, Rhode Island's Deer Tick over the last few years, but I guess I'd never really listened to them. That was before I heard Middle Brother (see #4) which features DT's main man, Jon McCauley. It took a side project to make me listen to the main project...and I am very thankful that it happened. Simply put, Deer Tick sounds like a combination of two of my favorite bands: The Replacements and Uncle Tupelo. Considering it has been decades since both of those bands broke-up, I don't know if those are good comparisons for someone aged 18 or so. But really, music like this just isn't made any more. Passionate, reckless, intense, emotional, rockin', drunk, clever, stupid, inspiring...all those words could be used to describe the music of Deer Tick. Bottom line, however, if the idea of Paul Westerberg singing lead for Uncle Tupelo sounds like something you might like...I suggest you grab this record immediately.

1) St. Vincent - Strange Mercy (4AD): Here we are at the top spot. I pretty much figured as soon as I heard the album once that St. Vincent's third release, Strange Mercy, was going to end up being my favorite record of the year. Hell, the first time I heard the advance track, "Surgeon," I predicted it. And now, after listening to the record about 50 times, I confirmed my earlier suspicion...We are living in the St. Vincent era. Annie Clark's thoroughly original compositions, brilliant lyrics (though usually not about what you think they are about), and fantastic guitar playing, make St. Vincent's music so enjoyable. Many hear similarities to Kate Bush, and I understand that, to a point. But Kate Bush can't wail on guitar, and she doesn't do cover songs by Big Black and Tom Waits in her live show. There really is no comparison.

D. Boon Passed Away 26 Years Ago Today

Today marks the 26th anniversary of the untimely passing of Minutemen frontman D. Boon. It is still a huge loss all these years later.

Top 50 Albums of 2011 (25-11)

Ryan Adams - "Ashes & Fire"

25) Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire (Capitol)
24) Death Cab For Cutie - Codes and Keys (Atlantic)
23) Bright Eyes - The People's Key (Saddle Creek)
22) Boston Spaceships - Let It Beard (GBV)
21) Okkervil River - I Am Very Far (Jagjaguwar)
20) Portugal. The Man - In The Mountain. In the Cloud (Atlantic)

Rave On Buddy Holly tribute

19) Various Artists - Rave On Buddy Holly (Fantasy)
18) The Decemberists - The King Is Dead (Capitol)
17) Telekinesis - 12 Desperate Straight Lines (Merge)
16) Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Mirror Traffic (Matador)
15) Those Darlins - Screws Get Loose (Oh Wow Dang)
14) Girl In A Coma - Exits and All The Rest (Blackheart)
13) The Kills - Blood Pressures (Domino)
12) YACHT - Shangri-La (DFA)
11) Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Scandalous (Lost Highway)

Top 50 Albums of 2011 (50 - 26)

R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now

50) R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now (Warner Bros)
49) Kaki King - Junior (Rounder)
48) Buffalo Tom - Skins (Scrawny)
47) Battles - Gloss Drop (Warp)
46) Obits - Moody, Standard and Poor (Sub Pop)
45) Rubblebucket - Omega La La (Megaforce)
44) Lex Land - Were My Sweetheart To Go... (Intelligent Noise)
43) Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts (Matador)

UME - Phantoms

42) UME - Phantoms (Modern Outsider)
41) Jeff The Brotherhood - We Are The Champions (Infinity Cat)
40) The Feelies - Here Before (Bar None)
39) Old 97's - The Grand Theater Vol. 2 (New West)
38) My Morning Jacket - Circuital (ATO)
37) Blitzen Trapper - American Goldwing (Sub Pop)
36) Various Artists - SPIN Presents Newermind: A Tribute (SPIN)
35) Noah's Ark Was A Spaceship - Hanga-Fang (Slumber Party)
34) The Ettes - Wicked Will (Krian)

Jolie Holland - Pint of Blood

33) Jolie Holland - Pint of Blood (Anti)
32) Ringo Deathstarr - Colour Trip (Sonic Unyon)
31) Wild Flag - Wild Flag (Merge)
30) Low - C'mon (Sub Pop)
29) Cold War Kids - Mine Is Yours (Geffen)
28) Radiohead - The King of Limbs (ATO)
27) TV On The Radio - Nine Types of Light (Interscope)
26) J Mascis - Several Shades of Why (Sub Pop)

Guided By Voices Cancels European Dates - Break Up Rumors Abound

Guided By Voices just made a big announcement on its Facebook page that could signal the end of the band (the band which reunited in 2010-11 and has just completed a new album). I know they say they are not breaking up, but what "personal reasons" would keep them from appearing other than a break-up?

"Unfortunately Guided By Voices are canceling their appearances at Primavera and ATP/I'll Be Your Mirror, due to personal reasons. The band apologizes for any inconvenience and disappointment, and thanks Primavera, ATP and the fans for their longterm support.

Guided by Voices have not split up and continue to work on new material together. In addition to the album release of Let's Go Eat the Factory for January, the band are at work on another album, Class Clown Spots A UFO, which will be released in May. Robert Pollard will also be releasing a solo album, Mouseman Cloud in March."