Blogs

Michael Jackson
Thriller 25
(Epic/Legacy)

Thriller’s continuing ubiquity -- not to mention MJ’s descent into epic creepiness -- makes the planet’s best-selling album as difficult to objectively analyze as The Wizard of Oz. But the 25th-anniversary edition’s best moments remain stellar, even if some cuts taste cheesier than Kraft Singles.

The extras are a wash. An okay companion DVD includes three music videos and the famed Motown 25 moonwalking segment, but superstar remixes featuring the likes of will.i.am, Kanye West and Fergie range from tolerable to teeth-grinding. As for the original tracks, the Paul McCartney duet “The Girl Is Mine” comes across as laughable in a bad (rather than Bad) way, and “The Lady in My Life” would fall flat even if we didn’t suspect that Michael’s current amour is a ten-year-old boy named Chad. But “Billie Jean” deserves its era-highlight status, while “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” and other less omnipresent ditties hold more freshness than anyone might have expected.

Not all of their thrills are gone. -- Michael Roberts

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Locals Only

DJ Low Key is doing big things in Denver right now. The last year was a big one for the Basementalism Radio Show alum and 2008 is looking to be just as big. He ended 2007 having his mixtape Median’s Relief in the Making (hosted by 9th Wonder) on several critical year-end lists and he continues to make similar moves. He just completed a mixtape with hip-hop group Tanya Morgan and their artist Ilwil called Beat Thieves 2 (download it for free here). and is, at present, promoting his Thursday nights, “The Solution,” at Funky Buddah and his Friday nights, “Refresh Fridays,” at Club Vinyl, which will feature Pete Rock on March 14 and Nicolay & Kay on March 21.

“I'm also working on some stuff with Red Bull for the Music Academy, a mixtape with Spitkicker that’s going to be on some Tony Touch 50 MCs type stuff (it'll be Mixing In Action #3), and I executive produced a video for hip-hop duo Blu & Exile last month that should be online in a week or two,” LowKey said. “For the last year, I've been real focused on working on projects that I think are cool. Not top 40-ish to pay bills, which isn't a bad thing, but right now I'm trying to work on the kind of nights, projects, etc. that I'd want to go to and check for.”

If it seems like it’s too much to keep up with, it probably is. That’s why Low Key keeps his people up to date on his website/blog with upcoming events, his current playlist and of course free mixtapes.

“Right now there's a ton of great stuff that I'm fortunate enough to be involved with, both locally and nationally,” Low Key said.

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Sometimes, all that stands between a mundane, quotidian existence and an ecstatic assumption into the heavens is a sneeze guard. Such was the case for Hearts of Palm’s set at Artopia last Saturday night. Though it was probably the only space large enough to hold the band – normally nine people, but only eight strong that night – the dingy, ill-equipped stage in the basement of Vinyl was the least likely place you’d expect to catch one of Denver’s best, brightest and biggest bands. But there it was.

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Beach House
Devotion
Carpark

03:10-03:55 of “Wedding Bell”
This is so mellow. I should be in a calm and relaxed place -- too bad this is apparently a duo of folks that can “play” so many instruments that the muddled sound of quiet relaxation turns into this slightly off-putting mesh of chaos with a pretty voice. Oh, and of course it’s knee-deep in a thick goo-like reverb.

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Dear Bandicoots,

I have been playing guitar for years now and have always aspired to be in a band -- although now that I have graduated I am working at this monotonous financial reporting job. When and how did you make the commitment to say fuck the 9-5 and be a musician? I NEED HELP!

-- James

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In the States, the music of Bullet For My Valentine – the subject of a profile in the February 28 Westword – is typically lumped into the modern rock, hard rock or screamo categories. But as lead singer/guitarist Matt Tuck makes clear in the following Q&A, he considers his band to be part of the U.K. metal tradition. Moreover, he hopes that its success will usher in a new era of British steel.

Speaking from his hometown in Wales, Tuck discusses reports about assorted health issues, including throat problems and exhaustion; the difficulties the band had in getting signed; the pros and cons of sticking to a musical formula; the decision to move away from minor keys on the outfit’s new CD, Scream Aim Fire, and the subsequent backlash from some fans and critics; a straight-forward attack on the way Axl Rose treats his audience, based on personal observation; a contrasting tribute to Metallica, another Bullet tourmate; and his revelation that, as a kid, he used to put himself to sleep listening to Pantera and Machine Head albums.

Sweet dreams.

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Bang Camaro
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Bluebird Theater

On the line: Denver’s rep as a bastion of metal magnitude. (Hint: The Jury’s still out.)
It was nearly 10:30 when I rolled up on the Bluebird last Saturday night. Joel Simches, the sometimes JV rocker and once long-time master soundman for the goth theatric duo, the Dresden Dolls was smoking out front. (Pssst: He’s also worked audio magic for Denver-based DeVotchKa, a group with a sound and a mission even weirder than their name.) All this he tells me through the clove-y haze of his self-rolled Drum roaches. He was tequila gold trippin', checking out the Colfax skirt outside the venue.

I gave up watching the rebirth of Swayback at Westword’s own Artopia to watch a burnout get shot down? By hookers, too?

I did. And it was worth it.

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Here's a selection of the best of last week's music blogging from around the Village Voice chain:

The ten-year anniversary of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea has arrived, and this live set from 1997, covering several songs from the now-classic release, is as good a way as any to celebrate.

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The writers may have been back for the 80th annual Academy Awards, held on February 24, but that fact didn't automatically transform the ceremony into scintillating television. The show still dragged past the three-hour mark, padded by too many interchangeable montages and a speech by 98-year-old art designer/special honoree Robert Boyle that seemed to last roughly as long as his half-century-plus career. But at least there were plenty of surprises among the winners -- and none happier than the victory by recent Westword profile subject Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who won an Oscar in the Best Original Song category for "Falling Slowly," a gorgeous air that graces the indie gem Once.

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Locals Only: Beatsource launches a “hip-hop iTunes”

It’s been the talk of the town for the last several months but Beatsource.com has finally launched and features a few local artists as well. Based here in Denver, Beatsource.com is an online hip-hop music store that targets DJs and features classic and new hip-hop. And yes, local hip-hop artists are encouraged to sell their music through the site. As of the site’s launch late last week, Denver artists featured on the site include Playalitical, Spoke In Wordz, DJ Vajra, Don Blas and Melissa Lujan. But DJ Chonz, Beatsource.com’s Label Manager, stresses that the music has to be top-notch.

“We’re open to accepting music from Colorado hip-hop artists, but it has to be quality music,” Chonz said. “We’re not just taking anything. But it's a chance to be heard worldwide, to be in front of the most passionate music lovers - DJs.”

Think you got that fire? Submit your music to Chonz at djchonz@beatsource.com and see if you can get that money!

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I hate winter.

Yes, I know. Colorado winters are remarkably mild and sunny, and we’re blessed with the occasional 60-degree day to break up the season. But I still hate it. And I say that every year, right about this time. Like many people I know, the middle of winter sends me into a hibernation mode that makes leaving my apartment a chore, socializing a challenge and even going out to see live music somewhat unappealing. The lack of fresh air seems to bring with it a paralyzing lack of hope and an overwhelming sense of dread.

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Intronaut, Saviours, A Life Once Lost, High On Fire
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Bluebird Theater
Better than: Banging your head on the punk rock

It’s official – metal ain’t dead. Sure, you can point to a million cases in which metal has been modified – some might say diluted or downright destroyed – by pop, punk and pomposity, but last night’s near-capacity bill of four unapologetic metal marauders left no doubt that there are still plenty of bands and fans who appreciate the thunderous power of unadulterated head-banging mayhem.

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This week, the Spiral podcast catches up with Bad Weather California before they head out this weekend for a tour of the Southwest.

Fischerspooner
The Best Revenge EP
Kitsune

01:45-02:30 of “The Best Revenge”

It appears that Fischerspooner is back on the dance train, trying to gain popularity back by releasing a single that is uninspired and sounds kind of like an electronic Peter Gabriel song. It’s hard to “update” a sound you stole from the '80s huh? Fischerspooner, dude, I’m sorry, but you and the Faint are going on a double date with Ladytron and Adult to some type of washed up ex-electronica wasteland where the Devil plays the Chill Out series on repeat and the streets are made of Moogs.

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Your taste in music is a cultural bullhorn. In a genre obsessed culture, what you listen to can project your overall aesthetic more than your fashion sense or the car you drive. Accordingly, there’s a part in our brains that organizes types of people based on the music they like. Let’s call it the Pigeonhole Region.

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