Diggings - musical musings of matthew sigur

"my future is static it’s already had it i could tuck you in and we can talk about it i had..."

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:39:22 -0600

“my future is static
it’s already had it
i could tuck you in
and we can talk about it
i had a dream
and it split the scene
but i got a hunch
it’s coming back to me”

- Sonic Youth’s “Schizophrenia”

Happy Birthday Merge Records!

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:10:52 -0600

Merge Records is probably the coolest indie-rock label out there today.
Since it’s the label’s twentieth birthday, here are just 10 of my favorites.

Arcade Fire’s Funeral
Polvo’s Today’s Active Lifestyles
Neutral Milk Hotel’s In An Aeroplane Over the Sea
Richard Buckner’s Dents and Shells
M. Ward’s Transistor Radio
Destroyer’s Rubies
Spoon’s Gimme Fiction
Dinosaur Jr.’s Bug
Oakley Hall’s I’ll Follow You
The Rosebuds’ Birds Make Good Neighbors

Album Review for 225 Magazine: Streamline's The Alchemist and The Arsonist

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:42:30 -0600

Album Review for 225 Magazine: Streamline's The Alchemist and The Arsonist

Album Roundup #22

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:38:27 -0600

I like my sugar with coffee, cream, synths and drones.

Julian Casablancas is now faced with the uncomfortable task of following—not only The Strokes trifecta of greatness—but also the cozy sounds of Little Joy and Albert Hammond Jr.
He’s destined to fail—as always—on Phrazes for the Young. He’s still the same schlub, thinking everyone will “piss on his grave.” But Casablancas has learned how to twist his melodies against different instruments rather than just the two-tone guitars of The Strokes.
The results are mixed. The album is largely electronic, keyboard blips with the occasional string sample or guitar riff here and there. “Ludlow St.” is grating around the 3 minute mark, and Casablancas sounds like he really has no clue what to do with the beat.
But I’m ok with this departure. I always thought one of The Strokes’ best songs was “Ask Me Anything,” that organ and Casablancas ditty off their third album.
He definitely has the voice for a project like this. It sounds like he has an array of sounds and armor as well. But it’s not going to change anyone’s mind, Strokes fans are still going to wonder when the next Strokes album is going to come out.
If I had my way, I would want to see how far Casablancas could take this electronica stuff before coming back to rock. As he sings on “River of Brakelights,” he’s finally “getting the hang of it.”
We’re finally witnessing that shy Strokes singer grow into a respectable frontman.

Is it hip to like Suicide?
I have a love-hate relationship with Suicide. I think it’s easy to canonize this band. At the time, they probably were pioneers; but some of it just doesn’t hold up. I’m not sure if Vega couldn’t write lyrics or what, but repeating lines over and over again hardly makes you a songwriter. And sometimes, you don’t mind whatever the hell he’s copping from Lou Reed, because Martin Rev can make a fantastic cape of keyboards for his singer.
My favorite is “Dream Baby Dream.”
Is that cliche? I feel like it might be. Like I’m really late for dinner, like dinner started at 5 p.m., and I’m the fucking young player at the nursing home who always comes in drunk at 9 p.m., wanting a bag of potato chips and Aleve.
Anyway, “Dream Baby Dream” may (or may not) be their most popular song (I mean, The Boss covers it, so it has to have some clout) and that’s because it’s a simple love song. The beat mirrors the dazzling, glossy feeling that everyone wants in a first kiss. It’s a prime cut for that romantic scene in a movie.
As for the rest of Suicide’s catalog, I’ll take it in strides. Right now, I’m quite content with Vega asking his baby to keep that flame burning forever…and evah.

The first time I read about Wooden Shjips, I thought it was a Rob Zombie side project. The band’s guitarist looks like Zombie, beard, long hair, tats and all. I swear it’s his doppelganger.
The band’s music is the farthest thing from Zombie and that horror-show dumbness.
Wooden Shjips specialize in psychedelic drones. Boasting a rhythm section that’s tighter than a guy doing the best version of the robot you’ve ever seen, these songs focus on a groove.
Remember that word? Groove?
Some might say this is too long, might even say it’s boring. And I get where those people come from, but listening to Wooden Shjips is a welcome relief from the constant need to keep the audience in tune and change up everything.
The band is channeling a time and sound when it wasn’t about capturing the attention span of a 15-year-old.
Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that the Rob Zombie doppelganger can play a mean guitar lick.

Update, three songs into Dos:…yeah, I love this band.

New Classics Vol. 6 Wyclef Jean— The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:57:06 -0600

New Classics Vol. 6
Wyclef Jean— The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book

Does anyone remember Wyclef Jean?

His efforts are easy to forget, especially in a time where pop radio in inundated with Soulja Boy’s casual innuendos, and the catchiest song on radio has a chorus of “you da fuckin’ best.”

Wyclef, himself, isn’t making things any sunnier. The most memorable thing he’s done in awhile was his appearance on Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, singing “If I Were President” with some elementary kids.

But it seemed like Wyclef was the next big thing around 2000. The Fugees were done. He had the amazing hit single “Gone Till November.” He even did that pop song “Maria, Maria” with Santana on the gazillion-selling Supernatural.

Forget what Wyclef has done recently and let’s focus on one of his better efforts, the awkwardly titled The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book.

I felt like such a badass buying this album when I was in junior high. Finally, I had found a hip-hop album that I could buy (that didn’t have a glaring Parental Advisory sticker on it); that wasn’t terrible (like whatever Mase and Puff Daddy released).

Fast forward 10 or so years, and I need something to keep my adrenaline pumping after a bike workout, and there The Ecleftic is, blaring at me, telling me to remember this.

Could it be nostalgia or is this album not bad at all?

Sure there’s the glaring pop-crossover appeal that Wyclef so wanted—see “It Doesn’t Matter” with The Rock guest starring and “911” with Mary J. Blige. But these songs work just fine.

And if you need more serious songs and true hip-hop beats, well Wyclef front-loads the goddamn thing with “Where Fugees At?, “Thug Angels,” and “Da Cypha.” All of which give Wyclef enormous “street cred.”

“Thug Angels” is enough to give this album a listen. Wyclef weaves a better story than Jay-Z’s from “99 Problems.” Wyclef sarcastically challenges all these rappers at the same time. The song feels real, which is impressive, considering anyone with drug money can get a record deal and talk about dealing crack. But do you ever side with Rick Ross when he talks about “hustlin’ everyday”?

I don’t. It’s fake. I get it, Rick Ross, you like drugs and money, but you want to make all that money legal, so you got ripped one day at your mansion, started rapping and your attorney who looks like Sean Penn from Carlito’s Way told you, “You should really consider rapping.”

It seems as though a lot of critics just put Wyclef on the back burner. Like I said, that’s easy. He hasn’t made the catchiest tunes, but The Ecleftic might be Wyclef’s masterpiece. When Wyclef was still trying to catch the few final flames of The Fugees’ popularity. When the music mattered just as much as the bass drum and snare beats. When hip-hop meant more than just throwing some sex and drug references in a song with a pretty girl with hoop earrings singing a general hook about a sunny day in NYC.

However it happened that Wyclef landed in my CD case this afternoon. I’m pleasantly surprised and will keep my ears on this forgotten gem.

New Classics Vol. 5 Richard and Linda Thompson—I Want to See the...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:48:49 -0500

New Classics Vol. 5
Richard and Linda Thompson—I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight

This album doesn’t get enough credit. I remember seeing its small picture in the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums and also in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Keel Over Out of an Airplane or whatever it’s called.

At first, Richard and Linda Thompson’s cinematic story interested me more than the music.

Guitarist meets session singer. They record a couple albums, ranging from folk-tinged rock to records that give in to the ’80s over-production and gloss. That last album doesn’t do so hot. Relationship crumbles. They release one final album. Live, the two are a wreck, slapping each other and yelling at each other. They finally break up.

While my peers craved the hip sounds Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours on vinyl, I needed something lesser known and less Magoo. I’m sure Rumours is great, but, at the time, it seemed like everyone and his mother and that football player from high school who grew up to be the father of six liked Rumours.

Point is, I finally bought Richard and Linda Thompson’s first album.

It’s amazing I haven’t mentioned this album. I was reading on this forum where a member said something to the effect of, ”You really need to listen to this every week.”

And he can’t be more correct.

Side A is a little stronger than Side B. I could listen to the opening riffs of “The Cavalry Cross” every day for a year and not get tired of it. Same goes for “When I Get to the Border” and its massive denouement. Same goes for the understated pop of the title track.

Sure, there’s the history of Richard and Linda Thompson. That whole aforementioned career biography. Even this album has its history of being recorded on a very miniscule budget then being relegated to the shelfs of Island Records for 8 months.

It’s like the album was destined to be underrated and overlooked.

That’s a shame, because it truly is one of the best pop-rock albums you’ll ever hear. You truly do need this album every week of your life.

Album Roundup #21

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:05:21 -0500

How about a round of quickies?

First up, Since when did Weezer think it was OK to sound like Linkin Park?
Sure, it’s catchy, but when did Weezer not make a catchy song or two?
Questions, questions, questions, that’s all Raditude will give you if you’re a true fan of Weezer at the band’s prime.
And yes, Pinkerton and The Blue Album hold up quite, quite well.

Meanwhile, Alec Ounsworth and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are on hiatus. I’m not sure when they’ll return. Some Loud Thunder was under-appreciated, but that last single and Jimmy Fallon appearance was underwhelming.
Ounsworth, luckily, is still making some tunes. His solo debut, Mo’ Beauty, features one of the best New Orleans tributes I’ve heard in awhile—”Holy Moses (Song for New Orleans).”
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah might be done, but this is a disc worth listening to, keeping me interested to see what Ounsworth might release next.
Even if he’s creepily following the career path of David Byrne exactly to the tee.

Fuck Buttons, I want to like you, but my brain doesn’t have room for obnoxious and long anymore. To the trash goes Tarot Sport.

Richard Hawley has always peaked my interest. He has cool album covers—any guy that can pull off lounging a plush suit and king’s chair and call it an album cover is all right with me—but I’ve never actually listened to him until now which I snagged a copy of Truelove’s Gutter.
I could drown in the song “For Your Lover Give Some Time.”
For this album, I will give some time and more listens.

"Somebody has to tell E:60 that it should stop taking itself so seriously. It’s the Tony Scott..."

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:19:33 -0500

“Somebody has to tell E:60 that it should stop taking itself so seriously.
It’s the Tony Scott of sports magazine shows.
We’re talking Domino-Tony Scott, not Top-Gun-Tony Scott.”

Roger Ebert Loves The Rock

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:56:21 -0500

Roger Ebert Loves The Rock :

I watched The Rock last night for the millionth time.

I thought I’d fall asleep to this movie, but I didn’t. I actually made myself (thanks Bud Light) stay up to watch Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris in the 1996 blockbuster.

This movie is ripe for the picking for a video-game adaptation. And surprisingly, three things:

1) There’s a Criterion Collection version.

2) Quentin Tarantino and Aaron Sorkin were uncredited screenwriters.

3) Roger Ebert kinda loves this film too.

"Maury Povich Rage Against the Machine Running That’s a good afternoon."

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:19:49 -0500

“

Maury Povich
Rage Against the Machine
Running

That’s a good afternoon.

”

Album Roundup #20

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:35:02 -0500

The Embryonic Family of Wild Things drinking Horchata

This week, I have three heavyweights (Vampire Weekend, Flaming Lips and Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and one pleasant surprise that trumps them all—Think About Life’s latest Family.

Gotta love young, hungry bands.

Let’s get this one out of the way.
I’m a fan Vampire Weekend’s first album, but the big problem with this single is the lyrics.
I have no fucking clue what horchata is. I’m pretty sure I don’t have enough money to buy it. I’m too lazy to open a Wiki page. It doesn’t help that the music sounds like a weird mix Animal Collective and Graceland-era Paul Simon.
I’m sure the new album, Contra, will be fine, but this song is just awkward and meandering.

If you think The Flaming Lips can do no wrong, think again.
The hype surrounding Embryonic was palpable. The album cover looks amazing, like some kid is being birthed from a Sasquatch. The band would return to the acid-drenched sounds of their earlier albums.
With this news, Lips fans and the entire state of Oklahoma collectively jizzed their pants.
On Embryonic, the band is trying to shed their Honda-commercial, happy-hippie vibe they perfected with their last two albums.
A note to my dad, this is not the band you fell in love with. There are no songs that sound remotely like “Do You Realize?” or “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Part One.”
I’m fine with that. I’m OK with a band wanting to change. I’m not OK with the production and obnoxiousness of this record.
I’m not going to dig through distortion and what sounds like afternoon drug binges to hear a melody.
That isn’t to say some songs aren’t cool. It’s the Lips, there will be some cool ideas. “Evil” is just a nice song with its Christmas on Mars-like space effects.
Otherwise, this is a boring, loud album. I’m not going to make time for Dave Fridmann shooting a load of distortion on something then panning it to the absolute left then calling it “production.”
Pot heads and Jeff Lebowski-wannabes, you can have this. I’ll stick with their earlier, better stuff.

Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is the perfect choice for the soundtrack to Where the Wild Things Are.
Her voice can be synonymous with vulnerability and heartbreak. She has the power to make me feel like a junior high school girl who just sat in mud.
“Igloo” harkens back to those feelings rather quickly.
(No, I’m not a junior high girl. I know, it’s a mixed metaphor.)
I love how a lot of Americans are expecting this film to be directly geared towards children. The same goes for the soundtrack. With people like Spize Jonze and Karen O in the mix, you’d think people would get the point that this will be smarter than G-Force.
But no.
The soundtrack works best when it’s just Karen O and some sparse instrumentation. She’s a truly under-appreciated talent with a helluva voice.
It’s also interesting that the best song (“Lost Fur”) is by composer Carter Burwell. His score might be better…

Anointing a band and getting caught up in the surrounding hype is easy. So much so that I forget about what I’m listening to and just remember that one exciting song.
Time hasn’t been great to TV on the Radio’s last disc, Dear Science. It’s got its share of good songs, for sure, but I don’t go back to much of it because it’s laborious to listen to.
And, yet, I thought it was going to change pop music.
Yeah, I was wrong. Big whoop.
Then I find Think About Life’s latest Family. This is how I wanted TV on the Radio’s pop album to sound. It’s not melodramatic. It’s not political and hitting you over the head with an Obama-hammer.
(Yeah, I voted for him, too, but the dude needs to get the fuck off ESPN.)
I thought the love for Family would die down after a couple of listens. You know the feeling, man this is good, but you worry you won’t be able to go back to it.
It gets old, like when you eat grits for every meal for a week. Then you all of the sudden hate grits.
But this album isn’t like eating grits every day for a week.
It’s much better than grits.
It’s a cool pop disc. It’s the sound of a band having fun and going for broke, infusing each song with an attitude of “What would Michael Jackson do?”.
I don’t need “Horchata” or embryos or the kids’ “l-o-v-e.” I just need a cup of coffee and Think About Life’s “Sofa-bed,” and I’ll start the day smiling, dancing and singing.

Matt's Mad: Hipster Breakup Playlist

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:02:05 -0500

Matt's Mad: Hipster Breakup Playlist:

In this edition of Matt’s Mad, I go all John Cusack and tell readers what’s on my playlist after the doom and gloom of a breakup.

"There’s no crying in baseball! No crying!"

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:30:48 -0500

“There’s no crying in baseball! No crying!”

- Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks)
from A League of Their Own

So Embarassed By Matthew Sigur Photograph 8/09

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:27:26 -0500

So Embarassed
By Matthew Sigur
Photograph
8/09

Album Roundup #19

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:21:00 -0500

The Speed, The Axe….The Backspacer?

For those about to rock, or workout, or do something that requires energy, indeed, I salute you.

If you’re like me, you might need some rocking tunes this time of year. Perhaps, it’s the midterm exams, or the fact that it’s raining more often. Whatever the case, here are three options to keep your wheels churning.

If the single “1,2,3 Party!” didn’t convince you that Mission of Burma still has it, check out the glorious cover of their latest album, The Sound The Speed The Light.
I want a poster of this in my room. I don’t normally buy random posters, but I might just browse the internet for anything resembling this album cover.
OK, we get it, Matt, you wanna make children with this album cover. How’s the music?
Mission of Burma fans will love it. They have surprising consistency especially for quitting in the ’80s then rising up like a phoenix and becoming the best punk band to reunite out of the whole bunch.
Their reunion doesn’t sound forced. You can tell they aren’t doing it for the money (Pixies, Rage, Dinosaur Jr). The band’s music still has that sloppy presence to it, and they have the capability to destruct into chaos at any second.
In short, the album is turning me to into an obsessed fan.

What am I doing listening to Converge? I’m not 13. I can’t wear skinny jeans. I don’t have tattoos. I don’t start fights at bars.
But if I ever had to start a fight, I would want to listen to Converge’s latest, Axe to Fall.
Let’s get one thing straight—I hate that screaming, “BLAARGH,” excuse for metal. Yeah, I liked it when I hated everyone in junior high.
But, these days, I only listen to this while working out. I rarely ever find myself listening to metal outside of the gym.
Axe to Fall might be one I would listen to outside the gym. First off, the drums are spectacular. Ben Koller, I don’t know how he hasn’t broken his ankles or wrists. This is the type of album that will make you want to air drum all day.
Me, in my old age (21), I can’t listen to too much of this, but I’ll use it as an alarm clock. For fans of metal, you will love this. It’s relentlessly loud and consistently rewarding.
Yeah, I know, I’m a pussy.

Speaking of pussy…
Pearl Jam’s latest album, Backspacer.
Reviewing this album is a Catch-22 for me. You can’t fault the guys, they’re in their 40s, and they still have the ability to make four good rock songs. Then again, there’s a song about surfing (“Amongst the Waves”) and another about breathing (“Just Breathe”).
It’s too clean, but shows some signs of life.
Note that I am reviewing this album after listening to Converge, so everything sounds girly now.
Look, this album isn’t a game-changer. It’s got a few good songs. Pearl Jam, I hate to say it, but they are going to make good singles from here on out. I’m not saying I hate the band, but you can’t count on them to make Vitalogy or No Code again.
Not gonna happen.
For now, enjoy “Unthought Known” and “The Fixer.” Then go see them live.

The Strokes—First Impressions of EarthOr that much maligned...

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:40:59 -0500

The Strokes—First Impressions of Earth
Or that much maligned third album from former cool kings

I don’t care what other people say.

“The Strokes were like so 2001…’Last Nite’ is their only good song…Room on Fire was like the exact same album as Is This It?…What the hell was that third album all about?”

First Impressions of Earth is the document of a band trying new things. They made two albums so comfortably in their own, classic-style production skin. This one is produced by David Kahne (the guy behind such classics as 14:59 by Sugar Ray, go figure).

But I’m not going to delve into the he-said, she-said of this album. I just come here to quickly profess my love of the first half of this album. It’s so consistent, so enjoyable, and…

So. Fucking. There.

“Ask Me Anything” was the quirkiest thing they did at that point. It probably startled fans. Now, it’s not a surprising listen what with Julian Casablancas guesting on Santigold and Lonely Island singles.

The lyrics are a poetic enigma, with lines such as “Harmless children, we named our soldiers after you…Hostile indians, we named our summer camp for you.”

Only recently did I kind of figure out what the song was about—somewhere, someone said it was about this alien coming to Earth, and you know, getting his first impression. Buh-huh. Taken in that context, the song is even more awesome.

Imagine Casablancas is sitting calmly at an organ, talking to a group of aliens, just ruminating about life, but he won’t “drag it out, that’s for other bands to do.”

People can talk shit all they want. But the real question should be, “When will The Strokes return?”

Playlist 9/28

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:40:30 -0500

1. The Field — Mason Jennings
Last week, it was “Pittsburgh,” and now this song is my new obsession. This guy has a gift with infusing his lyrics with dark imagery. Blood of Man ain’t your momma’s protest album.

2. Born Again Revisited — Times New Viking
One of the best tracks from the lo-fi band’s latest of the same name.

3. Island, IS — Volcano Choir
Justin Vernon’s latest collaboration isn’t my favorite thing he’s done. It’s mostly interesting sounds, and this track is my favorite of them all.

4. Die a Little — Viva Voce
Hearing this song makes my dreams of being in a band one day die…a lot.

5. You are the Blood — Castanets
I read The A.V. Club’s list of Top 25 Album You Could Listen to from Front to Back. Castanets’ Cathedral should be added to that list.

6. Evil — The Flaming Lips
I heard this was The Lips’ most drug-induced album. Oh, so this is what they sound like on drugs!

7. No Time, No Hope — Times New Viking
In the vein of Rip it Off, meaning it’s a catchy-ass punk song with tons of distortion and child-like yells about life’s meaningless.

LSU Legacy Magazine: Night Jobs—Midnight Snacks

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:22:14 -0500

LSU Legacy Magazine: Night Jobs—Midnight Snacks:

In the first issue of this year’s Legacy Mag, I talk to the people who work nights to serve all the students.

In this edition of Night Jobs, I talked with Moochie’s owner Nick Hufft, his staff and fans of his midnight snack-making enterprise.

LSU Legacy Magazine: The Right Ingredients

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:20:36 -0500

LSU Legacy Magazine: The Right Ingredients:

In the first issue of Legacy Magazine, I sat down and talked to some of the employees of LSU’s Tiger Lair.

Thanks to Ryan Lewis, Gennie Sims, Don Koshis and all the Tiger Lair employees who helped out.

LSU Legacy Magazine: Random Facts—Is LSU Going Green?

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:19:10 -0500

LSU Legacy Magazine: Random Facts—Is LSU Going Green? :

In the first Legacy issue of the year, I tackle some facts about LSU’s campaign to “geaux” green.