Why You Should Listen To Pavement

It’s no secret that we at No Jackets are massive fans of Pavement – a band that is so criminally underrated that it is quite disheartening. Whereas you always hear talk about those 90’s bands, I’m looking at Radiohead, Sonic Youth and Nirvana here, Pavement has slipped under the radar and I can honestly make a not so bold claim that Pavement are the most underrated band of the 90’s. So here is a primer on the brilliance Pavement and what makes them more than a cult band.

Most of what you need to know about Pavement can be summed up in the enigmatic character of frontman Stephen Malkmus. This is a guy who most famously started a beef (in rap parlance; hello Azalea Banks) with The Smashing Pumpkins back when they were dominating the 90s and every angsty teenager was saying that the world is a vampire. Fast forward a decade, Malkmus has aged quite well whereas Billy Corrigan still uses The Smashing Pumpkins name kinda like how Wolfmother is being used by Andrew Stockdale (and that says a lot).

So give Pavement a try!

The most popular song

The ballad

 

Single Sessions: Bitch Prefect – Adelaide

Single Sessions: Scott & Charlene’s Wedding – Lesbian Wife

From their second album due out October 7

Single Sessions: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Courtesy of Flightless/Dot Dash. From their upcoming album, “Float Along – Fill Up Your Lungs” due out September 2013

Video: Violent Soho – In The Aisle

Ever wanted to watch a naked man ride a bike through the streets of Brisbane? Well neither did I. But I did. For a bit before I changed tabs. But the music is pretty awesome. In The Aisle is Violent Soho’s third single from their upcoming album Hungry Ghost, and it’s the most raw they’ve been in years. Personally, I have great anticipation for this one.

The National – Trouble Will Find Me

I know a lot of the talk around the internet at the moment is about the new Daft Punk album, and I feel The National have been playing second fiddle. Which is a bit unfortunate for them. Due in Australia at the end of July for their one-off Splendour in the Grass headline set, The National will be dropping their 6th studio album and highly anticipated follow-up to critically acclaimed High Violet.

Trouble Will Find Me confirms the Brooklyn-based group’s status as one of indie rock’s flagship bands. The somewhat nerdy five-some have an obvious talent to turn melancholia into catchy rhythms. While the album does not quite reach the heights of High Violet or even Boxer, the album has a strong melodic charm to it. It’s the sort of album that fits perfectly with a rainy day and a cup of tea. Which is precisely what I’m doing now as I write. But even this doesn’t quite seem sad enough. I mean, when Matt Berninger is singing about  depression in lead single Demons, I can’t even pretend to understand. Apparently he gave up smoking before recording this album. This could explain why the vocals have such a more profound emotive quality to it, but I’m no scientist.

Highlight of the album in my view comes in the form of Sea of Love. There’s a part of me that loves when a song references the album title, and Sea of Love’s chorus “if I stay here, trouble will find me” gives me great satisfaction. It is bound to be a hit from the album, and a likely highlight of their upcoming tour. There’s a sense of intricate delicacy in the flow of tracks. Although it mostly follows the melancholia, the flow of chords and keys adapts through the album. Ranging from the more up tempo second single Don’t Swallow The Cap which features a delightful female backing vocal, to the more mellow Slipped there is a vastness to the album that needs an accomplished band to pull off.

For those people that were lucky enough to get tickets to Splendour are in for a treat. Trouble Will Find Me adds to The National’s already outstanding catalogue and will feature heavily in what promises to be a highlight of the festival. There are rumours that they will return for Laneway next year, a set that will be heavily anticipated.

 

Splendour Sideshows

Sideshows are beginning to trickle  in. I will attempt to keep this page updated.

Saturday July 20

Airbourne – Corner Hotel

Tuesday July 23

Daughter  – Corner Hotel (sold out)
Robert DeLong – Ding Dong Lounge

Wednesday July 24

Deep Vally – The Tote
Surfer Blood – Corner Hotel

Thursday July 25

Haim – HiFi Bar (sold out)
Babyshambles – Palace Theatre 

Friday July 26

Everything Everything – Corner Hotel

Saturday July 27

Wavves w/Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Corner Hotel

Sunday July 28

Jake Bugg – Corner Hotel (sold out)

Monday Juy 29

FIDLAR – Corner Hotel
MS MR – HiFi Bar
Palma Violets – Northcote Social Club

Tuesday July 30

Villagers – Corner Hotel
Cold War Kids – HiFi Bar
Passion Pit – The Palace
Laura Marling – St Michael’s Uniting Church

Wednesday July 31

Darwin Deez – Corner Hotel
James Blake – Palais Theatre
Passion Pit –HiFi Bar (under 18s)

Saturday August 3

Of Monsters & Men – Palais  Theatre (sold out)

Sunday August 4

Of Monsters & Men – Palais Theatre

Splendour in the Grass sells out

So Splendour in the Grass tickets went on sale this morning, and sold-out shortly after. With a solid line-up this year and a capacity of approximately 27,000, this came as no surprise; except for those people complaining on Facebook. I do take a bit of enjoyment reading through these comments. It seems those unfortunate posters are willing to blame everything but themselves. It is commendable the way that the Splendour in the Grass, and the official ticketing outlet Moshtix are responding to a number of these outraged individuals. 

Much attention has now been turned to ticket scalping on various online auction sites. Unlike many publications, I am quite partial to the concept of scalping; having addressed the issue in the follow-up to Radiohead ticket sales last year. With demand for Splendour tickets fair exceeding the Supply, scalping tickets leads to a secondary market for those most keen to attend. Nevertheless, this backlash has left festival organisers in a difficult position regarding ticket transferring. By restricting transference of tickets, Splendour will help to restrict scalpers, but risks alienating those more legitimate transfers.

Anyone complaining to Splendour or Moshtix in regards to scalping needs to take a look at themselves. It is a far more difficult concept than many consider. I attended Splendour back in 2011, and found it very well organised. In the two years since, the festival has relocated back to its original grounds and continues to claim it’s place as Australia’s largest festival. So let’s all cut them a bit of slack.

Splendour in the Grass 2013 Line-up

After much deliberation, the Splendour in the Grass line-up dropped this morning. Now generally considered to be Australia biggest festival, the organisers have not held back announcing a strong mix of foreign and local acts. With three diverse head-liners on each night; Frank Ocean, Mumford & Sons and The National (the latter two performing their only Australian shows), Splendour will once again have a high number of ticket sales.

For me highlights of the line-up include; Babyshambles (with Pete Doherty’s first tour of Australia), Klaxons, Surfer Blood, Cold War Kids, Portugal. The Man, TV on the Radio and The National, with a polite smattering of great Australian bands.

Tickets Sales dates have not yet been confirmed, but pricing is as follows:
Three day event ticket: $350 + BF
One day event ticket: $140 + BF
Camping pass: $99 + BF
Country Club ticket: $699+BF

Splendour takes place from Friday July 26 – Sunday July 28

Full Line-Up
Mumford & Sons (Only Australian Show)
Frank Ocean
The National (Only Australian Show)
Of Monsters & Men
Empire Of The Sun
Bernard Fanning
The Presets
TV On The Radio (Only Australian Show)
Klaxons
Flume
Babyshambles
Passion Pit
Birds Of Tokyo
James Blake
Architecture In Helsinki
Laura Marling
Matt Corby
Drapht
Mystery Band
Flight Facilities
Polyphonic Spree (Performing Rocky Horror Picture Show)
Boy & Bear
Fat Freddy’s Drop
Cold War Kids
The Rubens
Sarah Blasko
Darwin Deez
You Am I (Performing Sound As Ever & Hi-Fi Way)
Hermitude
Haim
Airbourne
The Drones
Ms Mr
Gurrumul
Everything Everything
Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes
Cloud Control
Portugal. The Man
Daughter
Something For Kate
Wavves
Chet Faker
Snakadaktal
Robert Delong
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Whitley
Fidlar
Jake Bugg
The Bamboos
Surfer Blood
Deap Vally
Palma Violets
Alpine
Little Green Cars
Vance Joy
Jagwar Ma
Villagers
Violent Soho
Dune Rats
PVT
The Jungle Giants
Cub Scouts
Art Of Sleeping
The Growl
Twinsy
The Chemist
Songs
Mitzi
Alison Wonderland
Yolanda Be Cool
What So Not
Xaphoon Jones
D-Cup
Otologic
Peking Duk
Tyler Touche
Bad Ezzy

10 Great Albums of 2012

I love lists. Especially best of lists. This is a list of my favourite albums from this year. I’ll also do a list of best songs, best gigs and best musical moments of 2012. Then I’ll have a list of lists. It’s turning me on just thinking about it.

In no particular order.

Cloud Nothings – Wasted Days

“Can I feel so utterly unreal but nothing I could do would make things changes”

He might sing in an annoying, nasally, out of tune voice, but Dylan Baldi has made one of the years best punk records. Teen angst is a common theme throughout.

‘Cause greed is glory and god is money, government is government it’s all so fucking meaningless!’

My favourite Australian album of the year. Which is a big call because there has been some brilliant albums this year. There’s just something in the roar emotion from lead singer and song-writer Will Wagner. Also being from a nearby suburb makes this album particularly relatable for me.

Grimes – Vision

“To look into my eyes and tell me la la la la la”

Clare Boucher finally gets the break she deserves, with this electro-pop masterpiece.

Tame Impala – Lonerism

“You know that you’re dreaming about being loved by him. Too bad your chances are slim”

Obligatory Tame Impala mention. It is a great album, and has been on repeat since I caught them at Meredith last week.  The Perth lads have the world at their feet at the moment.

Pond – Beard, Wives, Denim

“Now I live with a yeti and a caterpillar king. I wanna make love on everything”

I am pretty sure I prefer this album to their companions Tame Impala. More psychedelic, more 70s more enjoyable. Pretty great listen.

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Mature Themes

“If at first you don’t succeed at love just dream a little dream about a girl so real”

You might have guessed that this is a more mature work than previous Pink records. He does manage to retain some quirkiness though and his ability to write a killer pop track

Japandroids – Celebration Rock

“And if they try to slow you down, Tell em all to go to hell”

It’s been a good year for Canada, with Japandroids being the second Canadian acts on my list. Go Canada!

Boomgates – Boomgates

“Mixed messages I was receiving, or at least that’s what they said”

A Melbourne indie-pop supergroup formed from members of Dick Diver, Eddy Current, Twerps amongst others. Laid-back pop rock has been getting great reviews from those in the know

DZ Deathrays – Bloodstreams

“24 hours and I’m lying on the kitchen floor. You wanna use me? Well, use me fast.”

It’s been a staple in my playlist this year from when it came out earlier on. Topped off a great year for the duo by winning an ARIA award. Great stuff.

Spiritualised – Sweet Heart Sweet Light

“Well you got good style and you a little taste. Carved your name right into my face”

Only started getting into these guys three weeks ago, but my lord are they awesome. Barely a bad moment in this one.