Heavy Rotation: Week Ending March 19, 2010

01. Nadja – When I See The Sun Always Shines on TV, (End.2009)
02. Liftr Pullr – Fiestas & Fiascos, (Self-Starter.2000)
03. “Alex Chilton” by The Replacements, (Sire.1987)
04. The Hold Steady – Separation Sunday, (Frenchkiss.2005)
05. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive, (Vagrant.2008)
06. “Scare Easy” by Mudvark, (Reprise.2008)
07. “Which One of the Two of Us Is Going to Burn this House Down” by The Star Spangles, (Capitol.2003)
08. Drive-By Truckers – A Blessing & A Curse, (New West.2006)
09. Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks, (Fat Cat.2009)
10. “Step Into My Office Baby” by Belle & Sebastian, (Matador.200x)

The other night I had a couple of tweets about the incredible Liftr Pullr. For those who don't keep up on indie rock (surely, not a one you, my discerning music listener readers!), The Hold Steady came out of the burned out Liftr Pullr and leader of the band, Craig Finn packed up, moved out of Minneapolis to the indie rock mecca of Brooklyn. I don't hold it against him. Finn retained his raw storytelling, expanded his cast of characters and added some hope in the tales of self-medicating with illicit substances, seedy dudes and naďve gals, and religious/existential confusion.

As much as I liked LP's lyrics, there was something missing with the music – probably too arty for its own good. Finn infused The Hold Steady with a mega-blooz rock messiness. My tweet observation: “Can't sleep so digging into Liftr Pullr-no way that LP is better than Hold Steady; weird how scaling back jams to blooz-rock worked so well.”

What is this “blooz”? “Blooz = blues + booze ... this is a crucial distinction. Blues alone, sucks ass -- add dumb booze and things get weird.” And I couldn't wrap this up better: “Back to Liftr Pullr - *usually* I dig the weirder/artier/post-punkier better than "conventional" rock jams - Finn's vocals fit w/blooz-rock.” This type of change, to me, is a devolution for sure. The difference is Finn actually improved his band – there is something in those dirty riffs, piano solos, guitar solos that fit the lyrics.

In other news: as most of you know, songwriting genius and Big Star co-founder, Alex Chilton passed away. My thoughts go out to his family. The first time I heard Big Start I nearly barfed. But the band stayed with my since that first listen. Once I "got it" - melody, hooks coupled with lyrics with depth - I told everyone I knew about Big Star ... really thanks goes out to R.E.M. for mentioning Big Star.

###