D-O'Clock

Oneida goes on assault

P Bateman — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:01:22 +0000

If you’ve been feeling dull and need to get your brain rattled a bit, get your ears on the punishing psych rock of Oneida.

This monster version of “Each One Teach One” goes on for 43+ minutes, it’s a lot of noise, but sometimes you need that.

Don’t operate heavy machinery:

Tortoise 7-20-09 @ The Church, Philadelphia

P Bateman — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:20:48 +0000

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen these guys perform, but after being a witness last night at the Church, these guys show no signs of slowing down. In fact, the show I remember seeing 5 years ago or so was much more ambient and relaxed, whereas this performance was loaded with heavy, driven grooves, intense percussion, and pulsating waves of synth washing over. The energy was outstanding. In fact, I gotta give credit to one particularly overzealous hipster for singlehandedly intensifying the electricity in the pews. Around the beginning of the third song, as the show’s energy began to build, this dude held nothing back. I forgot to mention that this was a seated show at the Sanctuary at the First Unitarian Church, a wonderful old church room painted blue and red on the interior, old faded church stain glass and a large rusted organ on the side balcony, under which I sat.

So, here we are, seated and listening to the night’s sermon. Super hipster explodes out the pew, convulsing like a man possessed with the spirit of Christ! Jumping from the pew and spilling beer all around as he pumped his only superficially concealed forty. He incited the congregation, taunting them to get up and join him, pointing at them and berating them, daring all to join him at the altar at the feet of the band. At first, I wasn’t sure if he was going to rush the pulpit, and I’m sure everyone else felt the same. But as he continued to dance peacefully, albeit spasmodically, trust was gained, more heads rose to join him and the collective organism grew. I gotta hand it to the fucker, he got the place alive, and in the perfect place. Music, dancing, drums, organs, guitar, beer, freedom of expression, pure celebration, pure joy. This is what churches are for - this is the true religion.

I’d give more a detailed account of the show, ya know, with song titles and all that, but I won’t.. and yes it is because I don’t know the names of many of the songs. Although after this experience I will certainly return to the discography and explore with more depth. Here’s a sample of something new from Tortoise, it’s called “Prepare Your Coffin,” and it’s off the new album, Beacons of Ancestorship.

Paolo Nutini

P Bateman — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:18:25 +0000

Heard this guy I think on some song of the day podcast I have, maybe. I downloaded the new album, Sunny Side Up, and I gotta tell ya… it’s not great. Well, I got bored with it and couldn’t get through 4 or 5 songs, so I had to step away, to return maybe another day. At the least, the initial song of attraction was pretty good.

It’s called, “Growing Up Beside You”

A brief sports diversion

P Bateman — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:31:37 +0000

Just wanted to report the sad news of WNBA star Diana Taurasi’s “Extreme” DUI. A devastating blow for the blossoming league when one of its leading ambassadors has made such a poor decision that reflects so badly on the league. It’s been reported that Taurasi was at double the legal limit after 3 Bud Limes at local Phoenix pub, The Crawl Space. Taurasi has been the face of the league since being drafted 1st overall in the 2004 draft by the Phoenix Mercury, and has been the face of the league as she looks least like a dude.

As backlash, Mercury execs fear a drop of “tens” in attendance, and the release of WNBA’s first video game has been placed on hold.

WNBA…… still got “next”

Eels - Fresh Blood

P Bateman — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:08:48 +0000

This selection was introduced to me from a loyal reader of D O’Clock, a tennis enthusiast, and a damn fine American. I suggest others to do the same, and provide suggestions, because it’s a good way to share music, open up the forum, and take the pressure of the Bateman, because I am really lazy and docile since years of murder.

“Fresh Blood” is the track from Eels new album, Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire.

Killer beard.

Yet another musical reccomendation!

P Bateman — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:51:12 +0000

Like Johnny Cash with an unkempt vagina, Those Darlins belt out songs about heartbreak, booze… let’s just say they have a song called, “DUI or DIE.”

Go ahead, snoop around.

These girls both terrirfy and arouse me. I’m thinking Manson girls, or that chick from that Rob Zombie flick. Besides that.. I think it moved.

So go ahead and check them out, be their friend, buy their album, or whatever other wonderous things you’d like to link to in this hyperworld.

The Japandroids

P Bateman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:38:58 +0000

You know when you have that piece of technology, that possession, that you’ve come to rely on so much that its sheer existence propagates control over you.. it owns you. Right, the genesis and development of Tyler Durden’s existential rage, Exactly. My Western Digital external HD is freezing up on me and fucking up my night. After several discouraging connection attempts, I sat in the dark corner of my room this evening, cradling the plastic box, rocking… trembling. I sat on my window sill wondering, “What’s the point?” I then stared at myself in the bathroom mirror for what seemed like seconds, staring into those red hopeless eyes. My now zombie hands opened the cabinet mirror to retrieve a razor. The decision had been made. I would visit the Western Digital website for answers to my problem, and by gone it, email them for assistance if need be! But first, a shave.

Enough of that nonsense, listen to the Japandroids.

Lo-fi balls to the walls garage rock, what’s not to like? It almost teeters on the edge of what could fall into nu-age shitrock, but it taps into so many qualities of both 90’s grunge and punk, that the heavy hooks become irresistible. I’ve probably listened to “Post-Nothing” in its entirety five times over the past two days. At times I hear a lot of No Age, sometimes STP, sometimes even Rage… whatever the associations I hear a band and album I like.

Here’s a live taste

Reading through the comments, apparently Pitchfork has given these guys some love, a mortal sin to numerous anonymous netgeeks out there who refuse to be influenced by the mainstream, which I guess is presently defined as any publication that is even remotely recognizable, popular, or successful. Eff those clowns… let other blogrags pitch inferior products to them that they can cling to for the sake of “originality”.

Close it.

Reawakening

P Bateman — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:29:24 +0000

So ad rock wasn’t doing his job. He was given the wonderful opportunity from the fine people of Dark Comedy Hour to open up a forum, to rant and ramble, without rules, without restrictions, without coherence, without condoms, and most importantly, that BASTARD was given the floor to share new and/or somewhat obscure musical wonders to the boundless audience of this here internet…! Quite a shame, too, for he showed such promise. Remember that Rodriguez post? Such a discovery! That Red House Painters post? Christ, the anguish! The Scott Walker?? Actually, still don’t know what the fuck that guy is about. Terrifying character. But with all that promise, procrastination and neglect got the best of him. A waste is a waste is a waste. Waste needs to be discarded. So I did the right the thing, and killed him. Now the clock has been rewound, the music fresh and new, the reawakening of the almighty blog.

And friends, let me tell you I have the perfect band to reawaken to. A sound so fresh, so unique, so deep, so rich, so mysterious, yet so welcome. Grizzly Bear. That wonderful shitfuck ad rock made a Grizzly post previously, but here we have a new album, Veckatimest. Don’t struggle, the ‘k’ is silent. You may have seen the likes of pitchfork orgasm all over this album. And I’m here to to tell you that it’s all justified. Every drop. Let me start you with a taste… of music.

TWO WEEKS

This is easily the most accessible track on the album. The album’s full of terrific tracks, but many are so deep and so new that it takes that true listener’s effort and patience to find the ‘IT’. The ‘IT’ on ‘Two Weeks’ however smacks you right in the face. If you can’t enjoy this piece, get off my fucking blog and head over to Creed’s fanblog, which I’m sure exists and is hilarious.

For those remaining, here’s another:

CHEERLEADER

Right? Right? Pulling you in… and what label/genre do you attach to this music? How do you tag these guys? I’ve heard all types of ridiculous efforts.. some hybrid of prog-rock? Does this shit sound like Yes to you? Says a lot when the closest most apt description you can find is “baroque chamber-pop”.

WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THE OTHERS

So there it is, the reawakening with Grizzly Bear.

Do you like Huey Lewis and the News?

Nice Frisell cover

P Bateman — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:21:26 +0000

‘Stand By Me’ Around the World

P Bateman — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:45:58 +0000

Enjoy, and be well people!

VIDEO

More info here.