Ryan Dembinsky

The Disco Biscuits Planet Anthem Review

While album reviews typically fall under the domain of the Glide main page, we’ve decided to make a very rare exception to review the Disco Biscuits long awaited LP, Planet Anthem, which comes out on Tuesday.

The Disco Biscuits have never been afraid to polarize, and make no bones about it, with Planet Anthem they are about to do it again. Upon a first pass of the LP, listeners will ponder a slew of questions in trying to digest the new release from the Philly electro-jam act. Is this an identity crisis or a reinvention? Who did they make this album for? Did everyone agree to this?


With a bouillabaisse of sound chock full of club bangers, auto-tuned hip hop, thrash romps, Radiohead-eqsue introspectives and synth-laden techno grooves, the visceral reaction screams, “Oh my god, they made album for undulating dudes in banana hammocks at the Jersey Shore.” At first, these songs seem better suited to be played by a toned-up MC than by a musical ensemble who wields jaw-dropping instrumental command and improvisational prowess.

You have to sit with it. Once the shock value wears down, the album grows on you.

Ironically, despite all the guest vocalists and auto-tuning, both of which likely cater to the frequent quips about the quality of the Disco Biscuits’ singing abilities, the song The City, stands out as the best track on the album with Marc Brownstein’s vocals coming as a total breath of fresh air. The song also holds most true to the title of the record, as it contains the most distinctive melody, stellar production, and heavy doses of “oohs” and “aahs” to capture the cathartic, anthemic spirit that the Biscuits so successfully developed throughout the years.

READ ON for more of Ryan’s thoughts on Planet Anthem…

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Lost Cubicle Chatter: Dr. Linus

In  an effort to focus our attention on something besides Phish for a change, we’ve decided at HT headquarters to (hopefully) drum up some good chatter about the final season

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Lost Cubicle Chatter: Sundown

In  an effort to focus our attention on something besides Phish for a change, we’ve decided at HT headquarters to (hopefully) drum up some good chatter about the final season

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Lost Cubicle Chatter: The Lighthouse

In an effort to focus our attention on something besides Phish for a change, we’ve decided at HT headquarters to (hopefully) drum up some good chatter about the final season of the greatest television show in the history of the idiot box. Check in on Wednesday of every week during Season 6 to share your thoughts, theories, complaints and assessments of the previous night’s episode. Big time SPOILER alert for anyone didn‘t watch yet.

Synopsis: As always, with the help of our good buddy the Joker from Coventry Blog.

Geronimo Jackson, 2/23/2010

Set I – (Off Island): Scar Tissue (1) > Jeepster (2) > You’re No Son of Mine (3) > I’m Not Ready to Make Nice (4) > White Rabbit (5) > Mother (6) > Piano Man (7) > Secret Agent Man (8)

Set II – (On Island): Ghostbusters Theme (9) Tic Tac Toe (10) > Tunnel Vision (11) > Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (12) > Dharma Lady (13) > All Along the Watchtower (14) > All Eyez on Me (15) > Mirrors (16)

Encore: Sanity > My Friend, My Friend (17)

(1) Red Hot Chili Peppers; Jack on vocals, Jack’s mom on bass
(2) T. Rex; Jack on vocals
(3) Phil Collins; Jack on vocals, David on drums
(4) Dixie Chicks; David on vocals and banjo
(5) Jefferson Airplane; David on vocals, lyrics by Jack
(6) Pink Floyd, Margo Shephard on vocals
(7) Billy Joel, David on Piano
(8) Johnny Rivers; Dogen on vocals with alternative “Secret Asian Man” lyrics
(9) Ghostbusters; Hurley on Vocals
(10) Kyper; Miles and Hurley rapping
(11) Tuesday Blue; Hurley on vocals
(12) U2; Kate on vocals
(13) Geronimo Jackson Original; Claire on vocals, last time played S5, Ep. 6
(14) Bob Dylan; Hurley on vocals, Jack on guitar
(15) Tupac Shakur; Jack on vocals
(16) Disco Biscuits; Jack destroys drum kit
(17) Phish; Claire on vocals, Fake Locke on “Knife” chants

Epic One Liner of the Week: Hurley’s reaction to the obvious gaping plot hole in this week’s episode, that somehow after six years of episodes, the characters managed to find a new lighthouse this week? “Maybe we just weren’t looking for it?” Um… Right.

READ ON for more and to talk Lost with Ryan and Joker…

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Review: Dawes Fans Can Dance

It would be easy to develop a salty predisposition toward Americana/Soul act Dawes. Upon releasing their debut LP North Hills in early 2009, the music media enveloped them in a roar of buzz like a swarm of locusts, quickly propelling them to “it“ band status. Fortunately for Dawes and their fans, the band possesses an intangible quality that dispels any need for distaste toward this group of youngsters – one whose oldest member clocks in at just 24 years old. That intangible is humility.


In a coming out party of sorts on Friday night at the Bowery Ballroom, the band radiated pure joy and genuine appreciation about getting to where they are today, so much so that it became almost impossible not to root for them. Not only did frontman Taylor Goldsmith repeatedly reflect on previous trips to the city, playing to less attentive crowds and minimal accolades while supporting other bands and in much less glamorous rooms, but they made it clear that it wasn’t just about them. It was about a collective “us.” Goldsmith literally thanked the fans at every opportunity, making it clear that it wasn’t just Dawes that’s been getting bigger, it was about everybody in the room getting bigger together. These guys understand that they aren’t doing this alone.

To put it simply, Dawes is a happy band. North Hills, while a very solid album, does almost zero justice to the band’s live performances. Taylor Goldsmith possesses charisma on par with Bruce Springsteen and their songs – while simple at their core – serve as lightning rods to channel the band’s electric personality out to the crowd. During the highlight tune of the night, When My Time Comes, a song with an overt metaphor for the evening, the band had the entire crowd not just singing the title lyric, but (I kid you not) screaming it at the tops of their lungs. They even got the crowd dancing, singing, and belting out unabashed cheers. I know that I got goosebumps on three separate occasions and I doubt if I was alone.

READ ON for more from Ryan on Dawes at the Bowery…

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Friday Mix Tape: CPR Edition

You know what they say; you can’t keep a good blog down. After suffering a near death experience on account of the demise of Imeem and its subsequent sale to

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Lost Cubicle Chatter: The Substitute

In  an effort to focus our attention on something besides Phish for a change, we’ve decided at HT headquarters to (hopefully) drum up some good chatter about the final season

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Lost Cubicle Chatter: What Kate Does

In  an effort to focus our attention on something besides Phish for a change, we’ve decided at HT headquarters to (hopefully) drum up some good chatter about the final season

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Lost Cubicle Chatter: LAX (Parts 1 & 2)

In  an effort to focus our attention on something besides Phish for a change, we’ve decided at HT headquarters to (hopefully) drum up some good chatter about the final season

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