Mp3s: live Eric’s Trip / Vote for Tom Cheek!
Posted on November 23, 2004 at 1:55 pm | No Comments
Another week, another live set from the 1992 Sub Pop Vermonstress Festival up in Burlington, Vermont. This time it’s another Canadian band, and one of my faves from the weekend, Eric’s Trip from Moncton, New Brunswick. 12 live songs, most from seven inches, early EPs, and their first album, Love Tara. If you’re into this stuff, be sure to pick up their 2001 live-best-of collection, The Eric’s Trip Show, from Teenage USA.
Eric’s Trip
Live at Vermonstress
October 11th, 199201. Kiss Me Baby / Smother
02. Listen
03. Haze
04. Belong
05. Happens All The Time
06. Float
07. Belly
08. My Chest Is Empty (Part 2)
09. Blinded
10. Bring Down The Rain
11. Easier Last Time
12. Open Your Heart (madonna cover)
For more live sets from the fest, including Codeine, Come, Drop Nineteens, Velocity Girl, Crow, Pond, Six Finger Satellite, Green Magnet School, Sloan, Giant Sand, and Barbara Manning, check out my Vermonstress page.
VOTE FOR TOM CHEEK!
Ok, everyone… listen up. Are you ready for your good deed of the day? I don’t ask for much, but today I need a favor, and all it involves are a couple of clicks (and no, I’m not trying for a free iPod). And to you non-sports fans, don’t tune out because I’m about to mention baseball. Stick with me here.
Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster, and longtime family friend, Tom Cheek is up for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, as a listed nominee for the 2005 Ford C. Frick Award. Online balloting is open to the public until December 1st, and I’m asking anyone reading this to help all his fans, friends, and family vote him in.
I’m not just asking because I know him… I’m asking because of all the listed nominees, this guy deserves it. 28 years as the Blue Jays radio man, sitting in the booth for every game since their inception… that’s 4,306 games straight. Never missed a single one until the death of his father earlier this year, after which Tom was sadly diagnosed with brain cancer. He hasn’t even let that stop him, though. After surgery, and with ongoing treatment, he returned to the broadcast booth for more games this summer. Says a lot about him, as does the family he’s raised and the outpouring of support he’s received.
From the site:
TOM CHEEK: 31 years (Expos, 1974-76; Blue Jays, 1977 – ), the last 28 with the Blue Jays as radio play-by-play man…Broadcast every Blue Jays game prior to the 2004 season, missing several games due to the death of his father and personal illness during the season…Broadcast for the Baseball Network, 1994-95�Has called many post season games on Canada radio for Telemedia�Play-by-play experience includes baseball, basketball, football and hockey for the University of Vermont…From 1974 to 1976 was the swing man on Montreal Expos radio broadcasts on television nights…Member of the broadcast team for ABC Sports at the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid and 1984 Olympics at Sarajevo…Has broadcast college basketball for Mutual Radio Network.
He was recently honored by the Blue Jays organization as well…
“Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play broadcaster Tom Cheek was overwhelmed this past weekend when he was made the eighth member of the Blue Jays Level of Excellence � a designation honoring the team�s most cherished stars. Cheek�s streak of calling 4,306 consecutive games was made immortal when that number � 4306 � was affixed to his name which then joined the seven other winners (George Bell, Tony Fernandez, Dave Stieb, Joe Carter, CitoGaston, Pat Gillick and Jackie Robinson) in the SkyDome rafters”
It’s a great honor, and it deserves to be followed up with his name in the Hall of Fame.
Balloting is only open to the public for one more week, so please, go here and vote. You can each vote once a day, every day, so bookmark it and make it a daily click. You can also vote for 2 other broadcasters while you’re there (I went for Boston guys Jerry Remy and Sean McDonough), so head on over and make with the clickin’.
Rockish Ranking: 40 Somethings
Posted on November 19, 2004 at 11:25 am | No Comments
A couple days ago, Information Leafblower revealed the compiled 2004 edition of what he’s called the Top 40 Bands in America Today. And here’s exactly what it is: The forty biggest vote getters among a bunch of random bloggers whose only connection is knowing ILB, and who have either pretty varied or way-too homogenous (or, as Amie would say, homo-genius!) tastes, depending on who’s whining in the comments section.
35 people were invited, and 20 took part, myself included. I was glad to be asked, but had a really tough time pulling my own top ten together. Not just because there are way too many great American bands, but because I’m highly averse to judging bands against one another. It seems a pointless exercise, especially when my favorite band can change from day to day, depending on my mood, what’s in my player, and what happened to get released that week. Still, I was game, and I figured it could spark some interesting discussions over at ILB. Boy, did it ever. Nearly 100 comments, and the post even showed up on the Blogdex RSS Feed. Nice.
For fun, and inspired by Blueroom, here’s my take on the listed Top 40, with my own (and unnumbered) 40 best to follow…
- TED LEO + PHARMACISTS – I wholeheartedly endorse this product and/or service, and he’s one of only four (!) from my own submitted top ten that made this forty. Ted deserves every damn bit of praise he gets, and even though his latest record may not quite be his best (it’s close), he continues to put forth some of the best live shows goin’.
- WILCO – Uncle Tupelo fan here, but sorta stopped paying attention for awhile. When it comes to getting a country fix, I’m more of an Oldham man than a Tweedy one… but every time I hear another Wilco song, or even hear/read a new interview, I find something to love in it.
- INTERPOL – Such a good band, if fairly derivative. But isn’t everything, if you pick it apart enough? They get a pass because their songs are catchy as all get out, they avoided a sophomore slump, and they don’t look like every other damn messy haired band tryin’ to make it outta NYC. Plus, their bassist was so good in River’s Edge.
- GUIDED BY VOICES – No denying this one. Pollard’s been writing a variation on the same couple songs over and over again for years, but lucky for him (and us), they’re really amazing ones.
- THE FIERY FURNACES – Pleading ignorance here. Some mp3s sit on my pc, but the time to listen has so far eluded me.
- THE PIXIES – Well, yeah, sure. They woulda been way up in my top ten if they’d actually released an album in the last, oh, decade. They’re not gonna jump in based on a nostalgic tour (one that I’m seein’ in two weeks!), but let’s see if an album follows. Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease.
- BRIAN WILSON – Hmmmm. Everyone’s obviously still on that Smile-induced high. I bought it, I like it a lot, but… well, it’ll be in many top albums of the year, but give me another solid followup of not-as-old-as-I-am Wilson originals and we’ll talk.
- LUNA – I’m just a passive Luna fan (I’ve got Lunapark & Bewitched), but was a much bigger Galaxie 500 one. Wareham & co. just never quite packed the emotional punch I needed to get hooked in.
- MODEST MOUSE – Never really got it, although a few years ago I certainly did try. Brock’s voice… I just never found the music interesting enough to overcome how grating it was. That said, there are one or two solid songs on the latest record, helped muchly by him easing up on the whine. Saying it’s my favorite Modest Mouse album isn’t saying all that much.
- SPOON – Amie loves ’em, but I could really take ’em or leave ’em. Girls Can Tell was too precious by far.
- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – I sure do respect the man, Nebraska remains a work of genius, but… but… oh, nevermind. Not worth going into.
- CALEXICO – I concur, doctor.
- SONIC YOUTH – Totally understand this. The latest is their best in years, they put on a fine, fine show out in Northampton earlier this year. But is it all enough to make my own best of? Could be that their history works against them for me… since I know how brilliant they once were, the newer stuff gets automatically compared. If a brand new band had put out a disc as good as Sonic Nurse, maybe they’d have placed higher? Or maybe I’m just talkin’ outta my ass.
- THE MOUNTAIN GOATS – Every song I’ve heard has been good. All two of ’em. They’re on the listen-to-queue.
- RILO KILEY – Great band, deserved spot, and a super-catchy new record that I’m only now realizing doesn’t have quite the staying power of their previous couple. I just don’t find myself going back to it much… but I could just be burned out on it. Time will tell.
- DAVID BYRNE – He had me at ‘…Buildings and Food‘, but lost me with the ‘world music’ obsession.
- THE STROKES – Their overwhelming success confounds me. They’re just alright, and got real old, real fast. A complete lack of depth makes ’em entirely dispensible… like cotton candy in yer mouth, tastes pretty good but disappears so quickly.
- DRIVE BY TRUCKERS – Am I wrong to resist them because of their name? That policy worked perfectly with Hoobastank. I had a hard enough time checking out Dogs Die in Hot Cars. Glad I did, though. Hmmmm. A dilemma.
- SUFJAN STEVENS – Sorry, who? Seen his name around, people I trust dig him, so it’s time to go a’samplin.
- THE DECEMBERISTS – Ah, now that’s the stuff. I’ve yet to pick up their latest, but it’s on the wishlist.
- SCISSOR SISTERS – I loved early Elton John when I was, like, six years old.
- ELLIOTT SMITH – Well, his still-shocking-me death sorta disqualified him from my list, although there’s a good chance he would have been number one if he were still around. DAMMIT.
- AMBULANCE LTD. – Very good band, but, uh… this high a showing based on their debut album alone? Don’t get me wrong, I like ’em lots, but let’s see how the follow-up sounds.
- THE KILLERS – That single’s alright. I’m assuming it’s getting a lot of “alt-rock” radio airplay since Matt got sick of it so quick. Change that station, FutureDad!
- EMINEM – An undeniable way with words, a pure pop artist, but one of the best ‘bands/artists’ in America? Come on now.
- GREEN DAY – Yeah, 10 years ago, maybe.
- THIEVERY CORPORATION – Completely clueless. Sorry.
- JAY-Z – Ok, unsurprising confession time: my long-ago affair with hip-hop started with the Furious Five and ended with Fear of a Black Planet. That’s where it peaked for me, and there’s just no goin’ back.
- THE POSTAL SERVICE – I know, I said one album wasn’t enough to get Ambulance ranked so high. But for Postal Service? It was plenty.
- THE WALKMEN – I gave them a shot, I really did. So much hype, so little behind it.
- THE SHINS – For me, they’re the ultimate mood band. Some bands can put me in a mood, but with bands like the Shins, I need to be in a particular place in order to ‘get’ them. First time I heard Chutes Too Narrow, I hated it. Next time I heard it, while nursing an after-work beer and reading the Phoenix at River Gods, I flat-out fell in love with it. So I’m a huge Shins fan… depending on how my day’s going.
- OUTKAST – Solid singles, but that’s about all I’ve heard. Yes, I know that makes me uncool, but I’ll live. Twilight Singers do a mean cover of “Hey Ya”.
- THE FLAMING LIPS – Much agreed. Pop soundscapes that transport me every time. Love ’em. They’re America’s version of Radiohead. Who woulda thought that the band who released ‘Vaseline’ would be innovating years later? Then again, what did you think the first time you heard ‘Creep’?
- JOANNA NEWSOME – Say huh?
- SEA RAY – I know, I know. I’m on it! I feel like I might be missing out on something special here.
- TV ON THE RADIO – Kinda like what I’ve heard so far, maybe I’ll dig deeper.
- METALLICA – You’ve gotta be kidding me. These guys died the day they met over-producer Bob Rock, and were buried after their spoiled little drummer started bitching about file sharing. Mansion big enough for your ego yet, Lars?
- GOGOL BORDELLO – Life is so, so strange. Ten years ago I’m messing around on ‘Kool Thing’ with Eugene in my basement, and today his band’s in a top forty list I’m commenting on. Crazy. “And now eet eez time for ze punk rock!”
- LOW – Shoulda been higher, but hey, I’m just glad they’re listed. Their upcoming album is a noiser (well, for Low anyway) work of art. Boston show in February, cannot wait.
- LES SAVY FAV – Sorry, still not on board this boat either. Another one of those on the ‘to listen to’ list.
So there ya go.
And now, in no particular order, here are thirty or so American bands/artists that I love, all to varying degrees on varying days. The ten I submitted to ILB are buried in here somewhere…
Low, American Analog Set, Ida, The New Year, Ted Leo, Rilo Kiley, Greg Dulli / Twilight Singers, Album Leaf, Audio Learning Center, The Sixth Great Lake / Essex Green, Idaho, Walking Concert, Hot Snakes, Magnetic Fields, Death Cab For Cutie, Interpol, Silkworm, the Rachel’s, Nada Surf, The Sea & Cake, Smog, Fugazi, Postal Service, Pedro the Lion, Mark Kozelek / Sun Kil Moon, Kristin Hersh / 50 Foot Wave, Built to Spill, Sparklehorse, Quasi, Yo La Tengo, Pilot to Gunner, Summer at Shatter Creek, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Sleater Kinney, Wilco, Guided By Voices, Sonic Youth, Calexico, the Decemberists, the Shins, East River Pipe, and Palace / Bonnie Prince Billy
I can only assume I missed a whole bunch, and I’m sure I’ll discover new ones by the end of the year. Makes life worth living, don’t it?