Casiotone for the Painfully Alone -- Twinkle Echo

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone wins my award for Band Name That Best Captures The Band's Sound. While this may not seems like a very honorable title, rest assured that it still fits perfectly. Owen Ashworth, the main driving force behind CftPA, crafts melancholy lyrics that totally oppose everything set forth in the lo-fi, catchy, driving rhythms that eminate from his Casiotone keyboard and back up his songs. Even though these two forces seem to be going in opposite directions, they actually combine, highlight each other, and make for some really awesome songs. Superficially, these songs really are stories about people that are Painfully Alone ('Roberta C.', 'Calloused Fingers Won't Make You Strong, Edith Wong', 'Half Ghost'), but under the layers of wit and Casiotone beats, Ashworth explores many facets of human nature and the vicious circles we trap ourselves in. In all honesty, however, this is exactly what the short story writer should set out to do, and that's what Owen Ashworth does well. Really, his songs are short stories set against a soundtrack in a book-on-tape fashion. Sure, these stories may rhyme and flow, but that doesn't take anything away from their beauty or their significance. On a related note, Owen Ashworth is tied with John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats for the Biggest Asshole To Their Respective Invented Characters award. Sorry Owen, if you're going to make your characters trudge through the lives they lead without at least letting them get hit by a bus or something, it's bound to happen.

The Comedians -- Moon Colony Bloodbath

If you know me in real life, you're probably aware that I'm a big fan of The Mountain Goats. So, needless to say, when I saw John Darnielle and John Vanderslice play live this spring, I was stoked. While at the venue, I was personally told by John Darnielle himself that he had played this show to break my heart (he didn't play 'Song for an Old Friend'). During his set, however, between various fan favorites and a three-song bit from Full Force Galesburg, John Vanderslice came onto stage to play with Darnielle. After some of Darnielle's always-great banter, they launched into a set of songs described as being about 'that organ harvesting colony on the moon that the crazy guys are always telling you about, only you don't believe them because they're crazy'. Sure enough, when this 7-song EP was made available at shows (I think starting with the show they played the day after I saw them), it was about exactly that. John and John alternate singing between the tracks as they tell the story of a man driven mad by his work harvesting organs. Featuring spot-on performances by both men, this EP, along with Satanic Messiah and Black Pear Tree, more than makes up for Darnielle's slightly weak showing on 2008's Heretic Pride. All in all, a solid EP about a biziarre concept that leaves me hoping that the Johns will team up again in the future to record something similar.

The Appleseed Cast show review

So, I'm really posting again. I'm sorry I just stopped, I got so caught up in the end of school that blogging just kind of dropped off my radar (to everyone that e-mailed me: check your inbox). Now that summer is upon me, I'll be posting again, trying to get music out to the people. This first post is a show review + two albums of a great band, The Appleseed Cast.
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'Never ever, ever, ever let anyone rob you of your joy' The Appleseed Cast -- June 4

Ah, The Appleseed Cast... I remember getting Low Level Owl Volume 1 and Peregrine as a yung'in, and never really giving them a serious listen until my friend started raving about how good Peregrine was last year. Now, after seeing what may have been the most disappointing show of my life, I am glad that the aforementioned friend was not in attendance. The show started out well enough, with the first band, Jukebox The Ghost, taking the stage a little late but still doing an awesome job of playing an entertaining and fun set with just two band members. Kudos to those guys for being willing to stick it out and giving Columbus their all either way. I picked up a copy of their new album, and even though it is different (people in the band were sick and not in attendance), it's still a solid album, although I have to say I liked the two-piece more.

Tommy from Jukebox the Ghost

Photo Credit: Bryan Duffie | Flickr

The show went downhill when Jenny Owen Youngs took the stage, however. Playing a set that basically sounded like a bad knockoff of Rilo Kiley's The Execution of All Things (which is one of my favorite albums), Youngs seemed to draw in the drunk, hot, twentysomething hipster wannabes. In all seriousness, these people weren't even in American Apparel or anything. It was bizarre. But, still, her set, except for the moments when the band was allowed to really rock the fuck out (this happened exactly once), she just sounded like every other thirtysomething country/folk/rock crooner with the ability to play guitar. Not awful, but nothing I would really spend any further time/money on.

Jenny Owen Youngs
Photo Credit: Bryan Duffie | Flickr

Then, tAC was up next! I was more hyped than ever. It was finally happening! I was about to see one of my favorite bands in the same venue I saw another one of my favorite bands (Circle Takes the Square way back in '05)! Even the constant playlist of Black Moth Super Rainbow's Eating Us, which was an odd choice of music to play before the set, couldn't dampen my mood. I even met a really nice guy with a camera, Bryan, who was taking pictures of the set and was just really genuine and into the band. After taking to him for a while and watching tAC's people set up, the band finally came on.

Christopher Crisci from The Appleseed Cast
Photo Credit: Bryan Duffie | Flickr

After a brief intro jam and some fiddling around, the band launched into their first song. I noticed that there seemed to be a large amount of noise coming from behind me, but being right up on the stage and wrapped up in the experience, I didn't give it much thought. A few songs in, however, I began to hear screams of 'FIGHT SONG!' from the dreaded Drunk Fan. I focused back on the stage and hoped it would go away, but soon, drunken WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOs and YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHs started bubbling forth from the back, even in the middle of songs. The band ignored it, however, and played on. Soon though, Bryan and I got the first taste of our enemy for the night. A group of four people, one girl and three guys, all plastered out of their minds, started dancing. And not swaying dancing either. Full-on club dancing. With grinding. During an Appleseed Cast show. Eventually, their drunken carousing led the girl to jostle Bryan a few times, for which they stammered out an apology and then went back to dancing. Eventually, these jostles and screams turned into the most annoying and shrill things I've ever experienced at a show. Eventually, Bryan left his front-and-center spot for his favorite band ever and moved more towards the back. This meant the Drunk Fans got to move up right to the front, right next to me. After keeping their antics up, I eventually took a few steps back and ended up next to another fan who was into the show, and I was happy. Soon after that though, Drunk Girl started flailing her arms about and hit the new guy in the face. Drunk Guy #1 came back, apologized, and then kissed the new guy where Drunk Girl had hit him. He shrugged it off, and went back to enjoying the show. Later in the night, Drunk Guy #2 came up to me and motioned like he wanted to dance. I was extremely angry with their antics by this point, so I firmly placed my hand under his ribcage, looked him in the eye, and said "Get the fuck away from me". Now, if he was sober, this guy probably could have knocked me out with one punch, but instead he just kind of stood there looking glazed-over and confused. Immediately, the new guy walked up, separated us, and I spent the rest of the show (which wasn't much by that point) in relative peace.

Aaron Coker from The Appleseed Cast
Photo Credit: Bryan Duffie | Flickr

After the band's set ended, I shook the hands of drummer Aaron Coker and bass player Marc Young, thanked them, and went back into the crowd. I found the peacekeeper guy, shook his hand, and he gently brought me down to his level and said "Never ever, ever, ever let anyone rob you of your joy" in my ear. It struck me profoundly, and I realized that I had basically forgotten that there was a show going on and instead concentrated on a group of four drunks. It really hit me hard, and I was disappointed that I had been so easily distracted from one of my favorite bands. Later, I found Bryan, thanked him, gave him my e-mail so he could send me the pictures he took (they're gracing this entry right now), and chatted for a while about the show. Basically, I left Circus feeling extremely disappointed in myself, but balancing it out with a good deal of hope.
In conclusion, my thanks:
Bryan: Thank you for being an all-around nice guy and being willing to chat with me during the show.
Peacekeeper Guy: Thank you for bringing me back to Earth, helping me realize my flaws, and giving me some good advice for the future.
The two girls from the beginning who left after Jenny's set: I thought I heard "Ask him" coming from one of your mouths multiple times, and then other comments about asking me for something. In the future, don't be afraid to talk to random people, although I'm kind of kicking myself now that I didn't initiate contact.
The Columbus scene: Thank you for, for the most part, being neutral at shows and not being huge embarrassments like those drunk fucks.

Marc Young (bass) and Aaron Pillar (guitar) from The Appleseed Cast
Photo Credit: Bryan Duffie | Flickr

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And now, the music!

The Appleseed Cast -- Two Conversations

This album showcases a much more traditional rock sound. Songs like 'Fight Song' and 'Innocent Vigilant Ordinary' have become fan favorites, while still being able to appeal to people just getting into The Appleseed Cast.

The Appleseed Cast -- Sagarmatha

(Note: This is the cover of the CD, because that's what I uploaded. The cover of the vinyl LP is absolutely gorgeous.) This album is one of my favorites of 2009, just because it is beautiful! Sweeping soundscapes and rich textures make this the perfect headphone and speaker album. Listening through headphones allows you to catch all the little intricacies, while listening through speakers (especially if the album is turned up and my eyes are closed in a dark room) makes me feel like I'm soaring on the sonic clouds this album produces. If you don't have it already, get this album!

Also, be sure to explore the rest of the band's catalog. Some bands claim to be ever-evolving, but The Appleseed Cast is probably the only band for which that is 100% true. The switch from Sunny Day Real Estate-style indie on The End of the Ring Wars to the current soaring post-rock group has been beautiful to watch.

The Exploding Ticket -- In Flanders Fields

You know all those kids out there who try and imitate The Mountain Goats? Well, this guy actually does a pretty good job of it. 'Cristero War 1926' legitimately sounds like a John Darnielle song, which is a good thing. He follows John's formula pretty closely, understated guitar, literate lyrics, and a wide base of song narrators. In my opinion, there is not an unlistenable song on this album, although there are points where the lyrics seem to be shoved in or stumble over themselves in a lyric. That somehow makes it seem extremely genuine, however, and if you close your eyes, it almost feels like he's playing and singing his songs in the corner of the warm, comfortable room you just happen to be sitting in.
This guy sent me his music over last.fm a few months ago, and when I went to ask him permission to share this, I discovered that he has actually been in basic training for the Army the last few months, and won't be back for a while. How awesome would it be if you got this, listened to it, and threw a couple listens his way on last.fm?

Bill Callahan -- Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle

(LINK REMOVED UPON REQUEST. ENTRY KEPT FOR POSTERITY.)
I don't want to sound cliche, but this album may be one of the best of 2009 already. Granted, I haven't heard the new Casiotone For The Painfully Alone or the (fingers crossed) new Circle Takes The Square album, but this should come in close to the top. This album is full of gentle folk songs slowly leaking from Bill Callahan's mouth like syrup that keep you absolutely entranced. The man also has a perfect sense of timing and knows when to sing and when to just let the music do the talking. Amazon Music (lolololol) put it very when when they described the album as "[u]nfolding like a first view of paradise, then a slightly less ecstatic second view of paradise and then finally a glance back over your shoulder at that stupid paradise bullshit". Be sure to get this and listen to every song. 'Eid Ma Clack Shaw' and 'All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast' are my favorites.
last.fm

Team Robespierre -- Everything's Perfect

Fast, dancy, loud punk from New York. I saw these guys a few days ago in a nasty bar in the 614. Most of the band ended up playing on the floor and running into the crowd at random points. This meant that most of the crowd, including myself, was really getting into it. Throughout the show, I danced aimlessly throughout the crowd, concerned only with having fun. It seemed like everyone else that was dancing had the exact same mindset. Try it out, and I hope you have as much fun as I did. Plus, these guys are all super nice.
MySpace