Exasperating for the unassuming, Year of Meteors is twelve tracks of hypothesis and theories for those who are willing to reach the gratifying conclusion, you can judge a record by its cover: beautiful, lingering, and peculiar.
JFJO enters an area that they previously let lay untouched. They stray away from their wild unruly live performances and move to a cohesion and maturity as a band. They bring highs to jazz that are virtually unheard of today while continuing to weave together solid song basses. The Sameness of Difference is filled with obvious stand outs.
Indie pop-rockers Tegan & Sara are set to release their first full length DVD, entitled It
In a post on their website, due to Jim James’ health complications from a recent case of pneumonia, My Morning Jacket has announced the cancellation of their New Year’s Eve show at Madison Square Garden and their European tour that was to be begin on January 18th. My Morning Jacket hopes to reschedule the European dates as soon as Jim is fully recovered and able to perform.
If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “J Mascis’ guitar solos piss me off”, well, maybe his drum solos will touch you in the right spot. The long-haired dude from the recently-reunited Dinosaur Jr. is now behind the kit in a new stoner rock band: Witch. Standing in front of J in Witch are Kyle Thomas of Feathers on vox, Asa Irons (also of Feathers) on guitar, and Mascis’ longtime pal Dave Sweetapple on bass.
For those lacking faith in Mascis’ ability to pull a reverse Dave Grohl, have no fear. He was originally the drummer in Deep Wound, his pre-Dino Jr. hardcore band with Lou Barlow, and has pounded the skins with people like Mike Watt, Epic Soundtracks, the Velvet Monkeys, and Gobblehoof, as well as on various Dinosaur Jr. records.
As for Feathers…why does that name sound familiar? Well, the eight-piece Vermont band bearing crazy mountain instruments like the dulcimer and the lap harp have been opening for quite a few big shots lately, like Sufjan Stevens, Smog, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and, of course, Dinosaur Jr. They also guested on Devendra Banhart’s Cripple Crow album (hey, who didn’t?), and self-released an album last summer.
Witch’s self-titled debut album, recorded with John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Son Volt, Screaming Trees) is due out on Tee Pee Records on March 7, 2006. The tracklist is short. This either means no bang for your buck or, more likely, lots and lots of solos. Check it out and don’t let track three put you to sleep:
01 Changing
02 Seer
03 Rip Van Winkle
04 Hex
05 Hand of Glory
06 Black Saint
Source pitchforkmedia.com.
