Posted January 19, 2010 by Matt at 3:57 pm · Filed under Film, General
Albums of the Year:
1. Thee Oh Sees - Help:
Two things are magical about this release. Well, honestly, way more than two things are magical about this release. I wrote a blog post about it earlier this year that you should read if you want to hear the album described (or read it described, I’m sure you understand my meaning). But let me sum up it’s position at number one on my list by saying this: 1. I guess this just taught me that I could follow my own beat, without anyone’s recommendation I could pinpoint what I like and pull it off the shelf and throw it in my player and be satisfied for months. Musical enjoyment independence and freedom you could say. 2. This firmed up the fact in my mind that albums like Jay Reatard’s Blood Visions had started. An album doesn’t need to be by Radiohead or TV on the Radio to be solid gold.
I know that all sounds gushing and the like, but the point is, not only was this my favorite album of the year, it changed the way I see the music enjoying experience. It’s not for everyone, but it’s certainly my favorite.
2. Converge - Axe to Fall
I think this is my favorite Converge record. I didn’t spend much time with No Heroes and Jane Doe will forever be their defining moment, but this absolutely gorgeous. The best heavy metal release not only of the year, but of my recent memory, good start to finish, time and time again. A thinking man’s grind album.
3. Kurt Vile - God is Saying This to You…/Violators EP/Childish Prodigy
Kurt is my most listened to new artist this year for sure. Ever since Dusted magazine turned me on to Constant Hitmaker at the end of last year. This guy totally slayed 2009, and I don’t care what any major publication says, all three of these releases are worthy of an album of the year nod. I went by myself and waited 6 hours to see the guy earlier this year, and I still have no ounce of anger for him. (Not that that was his fault. He and the Violators were amazing once they went on, and he was a very nice dude to talk to afterward). Any other year this guy would have been #1. Totally owning bedroom folk with God is Saying This to You? and then hitting the major indie circuit with a well developed trippy/bluesy rock one two punch on Childish Prodigy. Totally awesome year, and I’m looking forward to many more.
4. DOOM- Born Like This
What can I say. DOOM is amazing. Best rapper going for sure. A wealth of clever and intelligent word play. And then there’s the guest spots (rock solid) and the production (right up there with Madvillainy). I’ll wait another 5 years if it means something this good.
5. Animal Collective - Merriwether Post Pavillion
This is everyone else’s number one. I know why. Insane amounts of continuously progressing originality, a record that even your girlfriend could like. I love it too guys. They haven’t made a misstep yet. So what, it’s still my number five.
6. The Points North - I Saw Across the Sound
And this isn’t just because I work here. (You don’t see any other amazingly solid Grinding Tapes albums listed here. Although you can and should find them listed HERE.) This album was the soundtrack to my home life this year. Chris, Regina, and Dylan made the album that defines what I think of when I’m in Boston, and well, I’m loving being in Boston. They have earned every accolade coming to them, and many more.
7. Avett Brothers - I and Love and You
I love these guys. The introduction of the piano, solid. The production nod from Rick “the mad monk of major label music” Rubin certainly didn’t hurt either. Tuneful. Undeniable.
8. The Black Crowes - Before The Frost…
It’s the Black Crowes, I’m a sucker.
9. Dawes- North Hills
Rock Solid Country Rock.
10. Ganglians- Monster Head Room
Very Underrated. Solid group of influences. Definitely a promising debut.
Honorable Mentions:
Best Artwork and Packaging: Elijah Wyman - tiny mtns
Most Impressive on Just One Listen: Tune-Yards - Bird Brains
Should have gotten more spins: Mos Def - The Ecstatic, Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans, Maxwell - Blacksummersnight
Movies of The Year:
1. Fantastic Mr. Fox
Oh boy, do I love Roald Dahl. Oh boy, do I love Stop Motion Animation. Oh Boy, do I love Wes Anderson. Oh Boy, Oh Boy do I love it when everything goes right.
2. Coraline
I have been watching a lot of kids movies lately I feel. this one was the most rock-solid. An enormous triumph for 3-D animation AND storytelling.
3. A Serious Man
The Coen Brothers best since No Country for Old Men. That’s not saying much I guess. But I would put this in their Top 5 ever. So dry, hilarious, interesting and moving. Their second best comedy effort. Second only to The Big Lebowski.
4. District 9
Awesome action. Stomach turning plot and effects. But most importantly, amazingly relevant Sci-Fi storytelling.
5. Watchmen
This is based on the best graphic Novel I’m aware of. It gets a million points just for not disgracing its namesake. But on top of that, man does this film got style.
6. I Love You, Man
Interesting twist on the romantic comedy formula. Surprisingly well executed. Amazing improv from Paul Rudd and Jason Segal. Better than you ever thought it was going to be.
7. Drag Me To Hell
I love scary movies. But only if I can laugh on the way out of the theater. Thanks Sam Raimi. R.I.P. Spiderman 4.
8. Moon
Only this low on the list because I hyped myself out of my mind and only would have been satisfied with Alien meets 2001 meets Blade Runner. Duncan Jones and Sam Rockwell made an amazingly simple, subtle and mind-blowing movie. Not bad for a start. His next one will probably fulfill my every heart’s desire.
9. Star Trek/Up
Star Trek was the best reboot summer blockbuster since Batman Begins. Totally fun. Maybe a little bit of a guilty pleasure. But damn if that wasn’t the most clever way to reboot one of the best series ever.
Up, on the other hand, continued the legacy of Pixar after Wall-E changed it forever last year. Incredibly interesting general direction, but a few things were hauntingly Disney.
10. Zombieland
Just amazing comedy, with Zombies. This, not Adventureland, is the best Michael Cera movie that he wasn’t in. Totally fun and gratifying.
(note- these last three bored me at times, or fell short of my high expectations, but still that certain “I don’t know what” that makes them worth mentioning)
11. Where the Wild Things Are
Again, my hopes were to high. The only way I would have been satisfied is if this was Charlie in The Chocolate Factory meets Adaptation meets well, exactly what the visuals were.
12. Inglorious Bastards
Lots of good performances. Amazing dialogue. Totally gratifying ending. I could have done with a little more Brad Pitt and a little more Inglorious Bastards.
13. Limits of Control
Art house. I won’t get this fully until there is a text book written about it.
Honorable Mentions:
Most Game Changing Movie of the Year- Avatar (and not half bad either)
Most Amusing- Step aside Hangover, I choose G-Force.
(To be fair: Movies I have yet to see: The Messenger, The Informant, Bad Lieutenant, In the Loop, Hurt Locker)
Comic Book Series of the Year:
1. Daredevil
Issue 500 carried the best series of Superhero comics into the next decade for sure.
2. Secret Warriors
Best new comic last year, interesting team of good guys, menacing bad guys, tons of fun that is sure to keep on giving.
3. X-Factor
I’m not even caught up, I’m just loving it.
4. Batman and Robin
Grant Morrison almost makes up for Batman R.I.P.
5. X-force
Despite a few stupid cross overs, this potentially mindless slash-fest was the best X-book this year. Awesome art. Consistently good writing.
Yeah, I’m a dork, so shoot me.
Posted January 4, 2010 by Jason at 8:30 am · Filed under General
We are very proud to tell you that The Boston Globe has selected The Points North’s I Saw Across the Sound as one of their top 10 local releases of 2009! Awesome!
Posted January 3, 2010 by Matt at 1:04 pm · Filed under DIY, Film, General
Posted December 31, 2009 by Jason at 11:59 pm · Filed under General
Albums released early in the year often fade out of memory and miss out on well-deserved slots on end-of-year lists. Bruce Peninsula’s A Mountain is a Mouth, however, was just too remarkable to forget about. Here is what we said about it back in March:
Bruce Peninsula is one of my new favorite artists. I heard their song, “Steamroller” on WERS at like 1:00 in the morning last week and immediately went to their website to buy their debut album, A Mountain Is A Mouth.
Bruce Peninsula is folk that isn’t afraid to get loud and noisy. Singer Neil Haverty’s voice isn’t necessarily pretty, but it’s unmistakably earnest and entirely unignorable. The most immediately noticeable element, however, is the gospel choir that instantly gives each song an epic quality.
I know that 2009 is still very young, but I honestly believe A Mountain Is A Mouth is a solid contender for album of the year.
Honorable Mention: Mew’s No More Stories…
Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou are two of my very favorite movies, but 2007’s The Darjeeling Limited left me wondering if Anderson had peaked with Tenenbaums. Fantastic Mr. Fox, based on the children’s book by Roald Dahl, is Anderson’s first stop-motion film, and the visual presentation is simply gorgeous. This, combined with Dahl’s endearing writing-style (not just for kids) and Anderson’s hilarious retro quirkiness makes this my favorite movie of 2009 and one of the best moves I’ve seen in a very long time.
Anyone still mourning Arrested Development’s untimely demise should find solace in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s dysfunctional family. Dennis, Mac, Charlie, Dee, and Frank (played by Danny DeVito) are all varying degrees of manipulative, incompetent, pathetic, and vain and manage to find new and hilarious ways to engineer their own downfall each episode.
Honorable Mention: 30 Rock (season 4)
I always get a little nervous when someone tries to remake any kind of classic with a modern twist, but Nintendo has pulled it off beautifully with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The key update was not to graphics or level design—frankly, they could have just as well left those the same as the NES or SNES Mario games. Rather, the most important inclusion is the 2 to 4-player simultaneous cooperative gameplay, which is both super-fun and relentlessly addictive.
Honorable Mention: Smash Bros. 64 (rereleased on Wii Virtual Console)
Posted December 30, 2009 by Matt at 12:50 pm · Filed under General
Celebrate with us by checking out this traditional New Year’s song that The Points North just recorded at the Grinding Tapes House!
Posted November 26, 2009 by Matt at 11:48 am · Filed under General
I would have said “Roundabout” by Yes, but that was too big to fit.
Posted November 6, 2009 by Matt at 2:29 pm · Filed under General, Promising Artists
Here is an excellent unreleased cover of the Magnetic Fields’ “Come Back from San Francisco” by Grinding Tapes artist The Points North:
And for those of you looking to compare, here is the original by Stephin Merritt & co. from 1999’s 69 Love Songs:
Posted October 3, 2009 by Matt at 8:14 pm · Filed under General, Music News (general), Promising Artists
Unfortunately, I didn’t know about this earlier, or believe me I would have made haste to share the information with all of you. But me and my girlfriend, in search of a movie, stumbled across this treasure of a concert going experience the other night. If you live in one of the cities yet to be hit on this tour, I implore you to go and see it. Andrew provided a positive environment as always, and his passion for music was showcased in a way I had never seen before.
The Calder Quartet are an extremely talented group of young gentlemen who have embarked on what Andrew repeatedly referred to as an “experiment of sorts.” In this experiment they certainly allowed us, the audience, to take part in a number of ways. There were performances from composers Phillip Glass and John Cage on the bill, not to mention solo improvisations on piano from Andrew (a sight to behold), and inclusive retelling of a few “I Get Wet” classics. His solos were riveting acts of a rock-and-roll mind bent out of control and intent on delivering a piano-style vengeance on the ‘classical’ style. The Calder quartets performances were impossibly vivid displays of what us rock and roll fans miss when we look over the classical section of our record stores. Andrew’s more rock based music and presence provided the glue of hilarity and joy and unity that fans have come to expect, and onlookers were made to love.
If you have never experienced Andrew W.K. in concert (or even recorded) I suggest you spare no expense to do so at your next possible chance. But if you have seen Andrew, I suggest you do whatever is in your power to attend this unique concert-going experience. The dates are few, but hopefully he will extend or return to performing in this fashion again soon.
Here is Andrew’s album of Piano Improvisation, “Cadillac ‘55″, in it’s entirety:
Posted September 17, 2009 by Jason at 7:20 am · Filed under General
Friends! We have two new releases available in our store! Please check them out and enjoy!
The Points North: I Saw Across the Sound vinyl and mp3
The Points North’s debut full-length is their most mature musical statement yet. This provocative and engaging album captures perfectly the stunning precision and thoughtful understatement of their live performances during 2008 and 2009. These quiet New England anthems are perhaps more at home in 1909 than 2009, but you won’t find a better folk album this year.
Slowest Runner: The Flophouse Session CD
Slowest Runner’s debut album is a live performance from their Band in Boston session on May 23rd, 2009. Named after the Band in Boston podcast itself, The Flophouse Session delivers on the abundant promise of the band’s jaw-dropping live performance. On The Flophouse Session, Slowest Runner combine guitar, bass, drums, piano, violin, cello, tape loops, and heavily-distorted vocals to create beautifully-dramatic movie score music that frequently reaches blistering intensity.
We are also pleased to offer a new product in our store called the Grinding Tapes Subscription! For just $10 you will get three rare and exclusive mp3s from Grinding Tapes-related artists each month starting in October 2009 and ending in March 2010. That’s six months and 18 total songs! At the end of the six months, you’ll receive a special exclusive CD with all 18 songs in classic Grinding Tapes packaging. Check it out!
Hi everyone! Sorry that we had so few updates these past several days. I was taking a bit of a lazy vacation, but we’re back on track now! Thanks to Matt for keeping the content rolling in my absence!
Oh, and here’s a remix that I did last week of Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown”.
8bitpeoples Bonnie Prince Billy Boston Bruce Peninsula Chiptunes Earth People Orchestra Efterklang Electronic Elijah Wyman Folk Grinding Tapes Holiday Jewelry Manners Math Rock Mr. Sister Scandinavia Screen Printing Slowest Runner Sylphid The Mars Volta The Middle East The Points North The Woodrow Wilsons Whitehaus
