Join the Musicheads, we're talking about Bloc Party, Sloan, and Lucinda Williams

Yeah, I'm with Mac on Bloc Party--never saw what the fuss was about.

The new Sloan record sounds interesting... I haven't even thought of them since I bought a copy of Smeared (only a quarter!) over a decade ago.

As far as Lucinda Williams goes... she's great/classic/whatever, but I have no need for more Lucinda.

I mainly know of Bloc Party from the mention of a tour they did last year with Mew, but honestly, I've never heard much from them or heard anything I liked. But I gotta credit this discussion, along with some discussion of them in some of the progressive rock communities. I LIKE WHAT I JUST HEARD. Very layered, catchy, psych. A lot of elements I enjoy from music.

I have seen them mentioned in Alternative Press Magazine before, but a lot of the stuff in there is often too "alt" for me. Although, they seem to be including a lot more indie groups who have a progressive rock element in their sound. So that's why I often page through it at the bookstores. In fact they have their annual "100 Bands You Need To Know" for 2007 coming up and it wouldn't surprise me if Bloc Party was mentioned in there. One band I already know will be, Kaddisfly I am gointg to be picking up the issue alone for.

Thanks!

I have this feeling that Bloc Party is set to become HUGE. Their upcoming tour they are playing theatres. It won't be long and they'll be playing the stadiums.

It just came to me...Sloan reminds me of Cheap Trick. Their singer sounds like Robin Zander on many songs. Cheap Trick also has that "power pop" thing that Mac Wilson had alluded to.

Am I the only one who digs the new Lucinda album?

Well, I do know People Magazine gave it a four star rating! ; ) I just feel like she has less and less to say, which really bums me out because, otherwise, I think she's great. Just don't get into a romantic mess with her!

I can't get enough of Sloan right now. You're right, Bill. Sloan HAD to have listened to Cheap Tick back in the day.

How I neglected to mention Cheap Trick is beyond me.

I remember just a few years ago Cheap Trick was in town to play 3 shows at 1st Avenue. The show I was at Joe Perry & Steven Tyler from Aerosmith just happen to show up and sit in w/Cheap Trick for a rousing version of "Train Kept a Rollin." Now that was a rock n roll moment!

Cheap Trick rocks. Have never seen them live though. I keep missing them.

Cheap Trick does rock! It's a shame they haven't made a GREAT record since Dream Police in 1979. Since then they've had to call in the song doctors or cover old Elvis or Beatles tunes every time they make an album.

Dream Police is my all time favorite. They totally went downhill after that. The House is Rockin' (With Domestic Problems) still gets cranked to 11 whenever I put it on.

I played "I'll Be With You Tonight" from Dream Police yesterday in honor of this thread, which, because of some infuriating password trouble, I wasn't able to join until today. It's one of my favorite CT songs with a great hook and big, dumb lyrics. Does Robin Zander have any hair left?

I gave you a Hundredola in the Lounge yesterday for that song, Seel! Thanks a billion for playing that!

I think Zander may be exploring hair plugs, or perhaps a weave.. I don't know.. :)

I'm still chewing on the concept of the Sloan CD.. I really like the music.. just not thrilled with the format.

Yo Frick

I think the Sloan CD really has a nice flow to it. And as Mac Wilson stated you should listen to it in it's entirety....all 30 song in a row!

You guys are wearing me down. I listened to the show (finally) and I'm starting to come around. The music is really good, it's totally up my alley. I'm sure I could get over the formatting thingy. That makes you 3 for 4 in getting me to buy new tunes - The Shins, Lily Allen, and now probably Sloan. You people are bankrupting me! (not that that's a bad thing!)

Bill, you're not alone in digging Lucinda's new album. It just has that... late night light sound to it or something. I might have to revisit it come summer, or after I get sick of playing the Sloan. (A nod to Tony, yeah.)

If it isn't obvious, there's another raised hand for Sloan. They really pulled this off and it is completely likable. "Last Time in Love" is the perfect for the weather even if I'm not sure what I mean by that. "I Can't Sleep" is a favorite tonight, even though I can't help but want it to be twice as long as it is. Transitions aside there were a couple points where the short song times made me wish for more within the track. Greedy, greedy and totally beside the point. I know.

Will you take a 50cent piece for that copy of "Smeared", Brett? You'll make double on your investment!

Gotta admit the Bloc Party is good catchy. (As an aside, anyone else see the pix of Bloc Party in the February Spin? For the love of cute, they're holding puppies. Puppies! Of course is is Spin so there's fashion info on what they're wearing, if you can afford that rock-n-roll lifestyle.)

soundscapem n. thanks for mentioning the alternative press mag. When is their big band issue comin' out?

Mac it was good to hear you join the 'heads. Was there hazing involved? You can share it here, we won't tell anyone.

Frick Nice to see that the Musicheads are bankrupting - not corrupting - you. Such a delicate line.

All that after arriving fashionably late only to find I missed "I'll Be With You Tonight" on the air? *doubletake* What are you guys up to, having fun?! Steve if you're going to work Cheap Trick into your shift and then inspire image searches to check on the status of Zander tresses well... okay, that's good material.

Julia, I'm not at liberty to discuss top-secret hazing rituals. Suffice it to say that cold Spaghettios, a big plastic bottle of Old Crow straight rye whiskey and nudity were involved.

And Mac the class act that he is took it all in stride!

Tony....your hazing ritual should have been:

Just you and a bottle of whiskey in a dark room with several hours worth of Lucinda Williams "kiss off" songs turned up to 11!

Julia, the Alterinative Press "100 Bands You Need To Know For 2007" issue I found out is an April Issue, so it may hit the news stand in about a month. I still have last year's issue and I find myself going back to it a lot still. I probably discovered 5-10 new bands from it, and that to me is well worth my time.

These podcasts need work. The conversation really sucks the life out of a room. It has all the pretentiousness of a music snob taking over the stereo at a party and none of the excitement of friends sitting around swapping LPs, EPs, 45s, MP3s, or whatever. Even the proponent of any given CD doesn't seem all that excited about it. And folks need to make fewer grand pronouncements (Prog Rock Rules! The CD is Dead!).

Update: yeah, I still have to fully listen to the new Lucinda Williams and take another spin on Bloc Party.


Thanks soundscapem n, I'll make a point to look for it. Hope you're up to the two of us comparing notes about it here.

Welcome aboard soapstar joe. Isn't there a song or a ballad about a soapstar joe? Soapster Joe? I'm not poking fun at your name, it has been a long day and your moniker rings a bell. At any rate, sounds like the show wasn't your cup of tea. Do you have some thoughts about the music itself? Do you have listening parties?

As to the question of musicheadhazing Bill, 11 hours of any artist's "kiss off songs" would be too much... unless of course someone is going through a break-up and then a good solid two weeks of listening might be a start. Tony, what little you've told me is still too much.

I've only listened to it a few times but I what I first noticed about the new Lucinda Williams disc is the lack or emphasis on Doug Pettibone's guitar. It doesn't seem as edgy and seems to lack some cool riffs. After seeing him with Lucinda at the Zoo and at St.Kates, his guitar really helps make the music. Most of it sounds pretty good. It still needs a few more plays.

Rick Nielson of Cheap Trick was on Drew Carey years ago. Man, he looked about a million years old!

Hmmm interesting, Gary. When "West" finally hits the re-play, I'll see if I can hear what you're talking about. Out of curiosity, do you listen with headphones or in the car?

Didn't see the t.v. show but rock-n-roll sure can age people!

wow..I am LOVING BLOC PARTY..they are fastly becoming one of my biggest 2007 Discoveries. I gotta again give props out to this topic/podcast a lot for that. Their new record is fantastic. Like heavy riff and layer after heavy-riff and layer. Muse, Pure Reason Revolution, and Mew fans I would highly endorse checking this band out.


Oh and a note about that Alternative Press Issue..it's supposedly coming out next week. Glassjaw are on the cover I guess. And Kaddisfly got a GREAT REVIEW in it I guess. I'm really itching to pick it up (along with Kaddisfly's new album next Tuesday)

My only music listening is in the car. Ocasionally in the office on the weekends.

My journalism teacher in high school was a big musichead (he was the first person I knew who listened to either "White Blood Cells" or "Is This It"). He mentioned once how there was this band called Sloan who had made some of his favorite records, and I never forgot that. I wonder if he knows how his words have stayed with me over the years...

I know that hazing ritual Tony......... Funny stuff!