Tags: Comic books
The prestigious (for comics anyway) Eisner awards have been nominated, and, of course, I haven’t read most of the books on there because I mostly read capes, and mostly Marvel at that, and the Eisners tend to be about indie creativity rather than mainstream popularity or hot-fun action. But that doesn’t stop me from having some opinions about some of the major categories . . .
Best Limited Series or Story Arc.
Nominees: Blackest Night (DC); Incognito, (Marvel Icon); Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka (VIZ Media); “Old Man Logan” story arc (Marvel); The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Marvel).
First of all, I haven’t read “Pluto,” so it shouldn’t win. And at the risk of committing sacrilege, I like Brubaker’s superhero work but his crime comics leave me a little cold, so that takes out Incognito. Blackest Night was a lot of fun, but the first three (and a half) issues were lengthy exposition that made for good reading only if you were a DC Nerd of the highest order. And it’s final payoff—that DC won’t resurrect dead people anymore—is completely unbelievable. I’ve only 
read parts of Old Man Logan, and I loved what I saw, but I have to go with Oz. Eric Shanower’s knowledge of the original books is bottomless, and he managed to create original characters here that didn’t simply crib from the iconic film. And Skottie Young’s art is some of the best kid-friendly but adult-savvy art I’ve ever seen. And I do mean EVER. If you haven’t picked this up just for the pictures alone, shame on you. I’d also pick Oz for the Best Publication for Kids category, but Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, another nominee, is a very close second.
What should have been nominated: Tony Stark’s mind melting story, or Geoff Johns’ Adventure Comics run, even though that one had a few missteps.
Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Nominees: Brave & the Bold #28: “Blackhawk and the Flash: Firing Line” (DC); Captain America #601: “Red, White, and Blue-Blood” (Marvel); Ganges #3 (Fantagraphics); The Unwritten #5: “How the Whale Became” (Vertigo/DC); Usagi Yojimbo #123: “The Death of Lord Hikiji” (Dark Horse).
I don’t have a lot to say here because I haven’t read any of these except Cap, but I can safely say: Pick any of these except that one. I know it was a big deal to bring Gene Colan back, but all it did was remind me why I wasn’t so crazy about him in the first place.
Best Writer
Nominees: Ed Brubaker for Captain America, Daredevil, Marvels Project, Criminal, Incognito; Geoff Johns for Adventure Comics, Blackest Night, The Flash: Rebirth, Superman: Secret Origin; James Robinson for Justice League: Cry for Justice (DC); Mark Waid for Irredeemable, The Incredibles; and Bill Willingham for Fables.
This is the toughest category for me to pick. I’ve never been a huge Fables fan (I like it, but don’t get what all the hype is about), and ditto everything Mark Waid has ever done, so those two are easy to eliminate. Justice League hasn’t been good since the second nominee in this category left the book, so that leaves just two: Ed and Geoff. Both are great, and both are nominated for great work. But I’m giving the edge to Ed because he took his characters to places they’d never been before and, at the end of the day, Blackest Night didn’t change much about the DCU. It resurrected a few characters, but there wasn’t any development of those characters.
Who should have been in this category: Garth Ennis, Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis.
Best Continuing Series
Nominees: Fables, by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Andrew Pepoy et al. (Vertigo/DC); Irredeemable, by Mark Waid and Peter Krause (BOOM!); Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media); The Unwritten, by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC); The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard (Image).
The answer here is so obvious it’s painful. The Walking Dead is like nothing you’ve ever read before: A long form story, with no obvious arcs or cliffhangers. It’s real life. With zombies.
What should have been here: The Boys, New Avengers, Batman and Robin.
Tags: Blackest Night, Captain America, Daredevil, Filthy Muties, Spider-Man, The Caped Crusader, Zombies
2008’s “Parc Avenue,” Plants and Animals’ debut album, was easily one of indie rock’s greatest revelations of the decade. An understated, smooth ride through a shadowy world of guitar and drums nearly devoid of singles (or hooks), but also compelling and well-crafted. This wasn’t pop, and it wasn’t noise: It was music.
The band has returned with a sophomore album, “La La Land,” which is much more accessible but still defies classification. Again they bring smooth, epic indie symphonies, heavy on the fuzz, drumming that is deceptively simple, vocals that ride just below the guitars in the mix so that they carry the songs without sitting in the driver’s seat…Can you tell I love it?
The best part is that on this album, they pump up the volume and add the hooks. “American Idol” could (possibly) be a single (albeit one that defies traditional structure), and it even has a horn hook. In fact, it’s vaguely like Talking Heads meet Men at Work. (Colin Stetson of Arcade Fire brings the brass.))In a reality where nobody has heard of the 1980s. This is a much more “rock” album, but like none you’ve ever heard before. And there’s not a weak track here. Song after song, slow number or fast jaunt, the band’s talent is more than evident.
Best album of the year? I dunno. There’s some strong competition from Spoon, Surfer Blood, Portugal. The Man, and even Frightened Rabbit. And it’s only April! 2010 is shaping up to be a great year for indie rock.
Tom Cruz (direct dl)
Tags: Indie rock
1. Cover Me has a post full of Eminem covers. Totally rad. Remember when Eminem was cool?
2. And speaking of rap, the terrific J-Live has a new single out. The Way That I Rhyme (direct DL). You need to hear this!
3. And speaking of hearing good music: Don’t Walk Away Renee-Billy Bragg and Badly Drawn Boy (direct DL).
4. And continuing to speak about music, check out this totally rad video for Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” one of the greatest pop songs in history. Just posting it for no special reason.
5. And speaking of things to see, I saw Death at a Funeral. Here’s a few remarkable things about it:
6. And speaking of strange things that don’t bother me as much as they should: Just got a new car. And I was paid a grand by the Federal Government not to trade in my old car. Now all I need to do is get subsidies to not grow crops, and my slacker apathy dream will be complete.
What’s old is new again, again. These days, it seems like there’s lots of indie bands who sound like they just busted out of the 1960s/1970s. Spirit Kid is another such band. But where most of these throwback, retro groups, Spirit Kid doesn’t go for garage rock or psychedelia. Instead, they harken back to the sunnier side of old-time rock and roll: Recalling The Beach Boys, The Zombies, and, most of all, Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra (without the disco influence). You know, the same sound imitated (much worse) by The Brady Kids, The Monkees, and The Partridge Family. In short: It’s sunny, fun, charming pop with strong percussion and soft guitar and/or piano leads. Real artists, real instruments, authentic songs crafted to be tight and as well choreographed as a Four Tops routine. Laid back, easy on the ears . . . Give it a try.
Tags: Indie Pop
Thought this press release might interest some of you . . .
The Salts Officially Break Up!
The Salts Offering all their recorded music for FREE (3 albums, 33 songs)
Chicago, Illinois – Three piece indie/rock/alternative Chicago Supergroup The Salts have officially broke up on March 29th, 2010. The Salts really never had a chance to show the world new tracks off their self-released second album, called Broomstick Rock Star (released on December 22nd, 2009). The Salts would love for everyone to have a chance to listen to the
music they put so much time and effort into, so they are giving away this new album, along with their other 2 albums for FREE.
* * *
The band members have gone their respective ways. Travis Lee Wiggins is still continuing to play and record with his solo project Essex Chanel (www.essexchanel.com), as well as with his other two current bands, The Personal FX (www.thepersonalfx.com) and Dolphins Swimming (www.dolphinsswimmingforever.com). Mike Rice is starting a new band (for the present time you can visit (www.myspace.com/mikeandrice). Luke Krause has been playing drums for City at Large
(www.myspace.com/cityatlargemusic).
The Salts would like to thank all their fans for all their support during the years.
Download Broomstick Rock Star the full album with cover art here.
Download Do A Somersault! here.
Download Just A Pinch here.
DJ/Producer Robot Koch (Jahcoozi / The Tape), one of technoambientbassanddrums most talented creators, has released “Listen to Them Fade,” his latest project. Now, this isn’t an area of music I get into very often, so I don’t know all the terminology and such, but I’m pretty sure this could go into the dub mailslot.
Here’s a clip from the release (direct download).
And if you want to check out his work as a mixmaster extraordinaire, and a man with wild musical taste, check out last year’s ‘Robots Don’t Sleep’ mixtape (sharebee)
Tracklist:
1. Rahsaan Roland Kirk – I say a little prayer
2. Robot Koch – love and the machine
3. The Bug –Skeng
4. Sneaky feat. Barbara Panther – feel like a king (robot koch remix)
5. Evil Nine feat. El P – all the cash (gltichtmob rmx)
6. Jahcoozi vs Destinys Child – indelible/say my name
7. Kromestar –kalawanji
8. Benga – crunked up
9. Conquest vs Perseph One – hardfood/oh slippin
10. Distance – V
11. Skream vs Jahcoozi -chest boxin /he who is well dressed
12. Skream – 2d
13. Death from above 1979 – black histoy month
14. Rustie & Joker – play doe
15. SP MC – trust nobody
16. Unknown vs Richie spice-burningC2
17. Ratatat vs Richie spice– burning
18. Desmond Dekker – shanty town
19. Rustie- zig zag
20. Nosaj Thing – aquarium
21. Frikstailers=2
0-tartamoodo disco
22. Lou Ragland –what happened to the feeling
23. Robot Koch vs Flako – the last astronaut
24. Dabrye+MF Doom – Air20(Robot Koch vs Flako20rmx)
25. Robot Koch vs.Cerebral Vortex – madness
26. Radiohead =E
2 reckoner (Robot Koch rmx)
27. Phantogram – when i`m small
28. Gas Lamp Killer – Kobwebs feat. Gonjasufi/ birthday music 07
29. Samiyam – quesadilla
30. FlyamSam_The Offbeat
31. Santogold – icarus
