Atlas Sound brings the good stuff.

If you don't own this album yet, shame on you! And for those of you are in Atlanta and are not going to his album release party tonight, shame on you, too! Actually, that goes for me, for I will not be able to make it to that show tonight, due to me spending all my money on Liars and Black Mountain last weekend. Luckily, Bradford Cox is local and will play here a million more times.

In the meantime, listen:
Atlas Sound - Quarantined
Atlas Sound - Recent Bedroom

Black Mountain with Blood on the Wall, Feb. 15 @ The Earl

Blood on the Wall





Black Mountain:





Thoughts:
Whoa.

OK, so here's the thing: I am a fan of Black Mountain. Ever since their self-titled debut in 2005, I've been on 'em. I was even more stoked to hear that their first single, “Tyrants” off their newest album, In the Future, was an impeccable seven-plus minutes. Can't ever go wrong with that.

Honestly, after seeing Liars, I didn't think I'd have any leftover energy to see Black Mountain. It was one of those things where I rocked out so hard at the previous show that I wasn't expecting BM to impress me as much. I mean, Liars is one of my favorite bands. Just a terribly hard act to follow, y'know?

But I'll be damned if those Canadian summabitches surprised the shit out of me last night when I saw their performance. I knew it was gonna be good, correct; but I did not expect it to reach the level of brilliance. I mean, they rocked hard. It's been a while since I've been to a good ol' fashioned, straight-up rock show. It's refreshing, man, because anything that sounds remotely like classic rock is gonna be up my alley. Goddam. I felt like I was in a time warp to 1971, man. Prog rock lives on!

Also: Blood on the Wall had a solid performance. I couldn't help but think Pixies influence—with a dabble of The Vaselines influence—while listening to them.

Liars with No Age, Feb. 14 @ The Earl

No Age:





Liars:





Thoughts:
So as some of you may know, I have been looking forward to this show since November. It was definitely the most anticipated show of the year for me. And boy, did it not disappoint.

It's been a while since I've gone to a show where I caught the opening act. I used to go to shows all the time just so I could see the opening act, but then I grew super elitist and was like, “Bah, who cares—the opening act is probably gonna suck anyway. New music just doesn't strike me anymore.” And now, I have gotten over that 12-month slump of thought and have reverted to my original passion of going to shows and enjoying the possibility of knowing a new act.

No Age certainly isn't a new act with the hip kids out there, but during my elitist stupor, I overlooked 'em. Fortunately, I was presented an opportunity to get to know who the hell these kids were about and freakin' loved 'em! They knocked me out the box (Rick)! First off, I didn't even know they were a duo making all that noise, and second, they were the perfect opening act for Liars. So, yeah, thank you, No Age for that.

And of course, Liars. Oh, Liars. LiarsLiarsLiars. Need I say more? I mean, seriously—need I? Need I elaborate on the state of happiness I was in as soon as I saw Angus Andrews walk onstage, dressed in a magenta suit? I literally became a little girl when I saw him. Giggles galore. Freakin' loved it. Starting out a show with “Leather Prowler” is too much to bear.

People were saying it was gonna be a “tame” Liars show because Andrews blew out his back a few weeks back before they kicked off their tour. So for the most part, he was sitting in a chair, but then he'd feel the moment and just WAMMO! Out the chair he goes and up the air he went, as if possessed by his own band's genius. I couldn't help but think, “Hmmm. So this is how the kids who were lucky to see Frank Zappa live felt.”

Attention, Atlanta showgoers: Greg Connors, 1.18 @ Kavarna

I want to make sure this is fresh in yer brains when I promote this show, which is tomorrow at 9 p.m., located right in the heart of the Oakhurst district in Decatur at Kavarna. It's a really groovy place for people who wants to have yummy tapas and listen to some smooth singer-songwriters in an intimate spot.

About Greg Connors:
Connors released his latest album, Here, There and Anymore in 2006 and was produced by indie outcast singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur, a frequent collaborator for Connors.

My thoughts:
I've seen the guy and own the album and I'll say, it's pretty solid. I know I mention this damn guy a lot, but I get a sense of David Berman of the Silver Jews mixed with Stephen Malkmus and a dabble of Pixies' Frank Black. (Sidebar: So I've come to the conclusion that David Berman is a genius.) Listening to Connors' voice makes me sad that he didn't make the cut during the heyday of the '90s indie movement, but glad to know that something that wonderful is still being put out in the 21st century. His songs are filled with irony, cynicism and a little bit of angst--not the type of angst you grew up listening to as a kid during punk revolution, but more so the angst you have as the former punk who now realizes he lives in a different era and has to own up to his responsibilities as an adult. A nostalgic angst, if you will. And honestly, I can relate to the latter more than anything.

In short--go see him live. Or at least give the brother a listen:
Greg Connors @ Myspace

Two reasons why Atlanta's the place to be on Valentine's Day weekend.

Fuck candies and flowers, gimme the Liars at The Earl on Feb. 14--

followed by Canadian psych-rockers Black Mountain at the aforementioned venue on Feb. 15.

Two bands I've been dying to see, back-to-back. I haven't been this wow'ed since last year when I saw Blonde Redhead and the Modest Mouse/Man Man showcase back-to-back. I think this may trump it. Way to go.

I recommend anyone who lives in or near Atlanta should partake in such mind-blowing experiences. Don't say I didn't tell you ahead of time.

Shows I've Seen: Best of 2007

The Fiery Furnaces, 2007's Top 3 performers

10. Badly Drawn Boy, March 14 @ The Loft. He's a very sassy performer, but he played his ass off. He made me want to throw my drawz at him when he sang "Magic in the Air" at the end of his encore.

9. Peter, Bjorn and John, Sept. 12 @ Variety Playhouse. I knew this show was gonna be good when I went to the box office six hours prior to the show and purchased the very last ticket. Weeks before the show I wasn't sure if I wanted to see PBJ or not, but I'm glad I decided to go. Hearing "Up Against the Wall" live is a treat.

8. Blonde Redhead, May 4 @ Variety Playhouse. I've been wanting to see these kids for over two years and it was fantastic. It was kinda weird because they sounded too similar to their studio recordings, but they put on a good'un, nonetheless.

7. Caribou, Oct. 12 @ The Earl. Dan Snaith is a hard-working mother, man. Caribou just has a great all-around sound and I'm happy to have witnessed such beauty live.

6. Jens Lekman, Nov. 16 @ Drunken Unicorn. He didn't perform with his band, but to my amazement, he pulled it off like a pro. I always have ultimate respect for solo artists who still knows how to be entertaining.

5. Deerhunter, March 30 @ Lenny's. The biggest buzz band of the year, who happens to be from my neck o' da woods, threw a release party on this date. It was incredible. They played their asses off, and I was pleased.

4. Modest Mouse/Man Man, May 5 @ The Masquerade Music Park. Modest Mouse=favorite active band, Man Man=favorite live band--what more could I ask for?

3. The Fiery Furnaces, July 7 @ The Earl. When I first saw them in 2005, it was my favorite show of the year. Your life is meaningless if you haven't seen Fiery Furnaces live, because it's an ongoing adrenaline fest. They were even better than the last time, and would've easily been my favorite of this year, but they had some tough competition this year.

2. Animal Collective, Sept. 26 @ Variety Playhouse. They, too, were an adrenaline fest, and seeing them live was a real treat for me. They played a nearly two-hour set without an encore! Straight through that sucka! They rocked my world.

Who could've topped Animal Collective and Fiery Furnaces, you ask?

These guys:

1. Sonic Youth, July 13 @ Pitchfork Music Festival. Sonic Youth was the only band I felt like I needed to see before I retired in this here life, and seeing them for only $15 performing Daydream Nation in its entirety, as well as a handful of great jams off of Rather Ripped (especially with them ending on "Jams Run Free") was more than an "awesome" time. Words are overrated when it comes to my feelings on seeing one of my all-time favorite bands live. God bless you, Kim, Thurston, Lee and Steve.

Color me impressed: Melt-Banana

I closed out my holiday weekend by catching these Japanese noise rockers in Nashville. Despite the young punks in the front moshing like it was still 1995, that show was pretty badass. I was amazed. They get an award for Best Stage Presence. They did something that most bands do not do: cover a song I originally despised until I hear their version, in which makes me do a 180.

Here's their cover of Blondie's "Heart of Glass"

Jens Lekman, Nov. 16

Jens Lekman performing Paul Simon's "Call Me Al" in Dallas at Granada Theater

New blog, new attitude (not really). So what better way to inaugurate this special occasion than talking about Jens Lekman's entertainment brilliance?

Granted this video is of him performing in Dallas on Nov. 13, I was privileged to make my way over to The Drunken Unicorn three nights later. And lemme tell ya--despite its uncomfortable atmosphere that any small, crowded venue brings you, it was all worth it. I couldn't move the entire night, and was slightly disappointed that he didn't bring his band, but he pulled that shit off, especially when he did crowd favorite "A Sweet Summer's Night in Hammer Hill."

He's a comedian who happens to be an amazing musician. Ever listen to the lyrics? You should. He's a great storyteller.

Exhibit A:
Jens Lekman - A Postcard To Nina