Lazy Friday Work Playlist

So, Fridays ALWAYS go way too slow for me when I'm at work. If I wasn't allowed an iPod at work, I would lose my gourd.

Maybe you're in the same shoes... Here's my Lazy Friday Work Playlist (thanks to the "Shuffle" feature on the iPod), if you're interested:

Yeasayer - 2080
Kunek - A Sign Of Life
Kings of Convenience - I Don't Know What I Can Save You From
The New Frontiers - Mirrors
Ryan Lindsey - An Introspective Personality
Bon Iver - Re: Stacks
Shout Out Louds - Impossible
Earlimart - Nothing Is True
The Kinks - Village Green Preservation Society
Elvis Costello - Watching The Detectives

(Sorry you're not able to download them... Maybe later...)

(Aaron H.)

Entertainment Weekly's "Indie Rock 25" -

EW recently released a year by year list of "the adventurous artists and albums that defined each year from 1984 to the present outside the major label sphere."

But in order to narrow down hundreds of hours of incredible musical output from the last two and a half decades, we had to apply some ... well, rules:

1. Only one album may represent each year (hence the inclusion, in some cases, of
too-hard-to-dismiss runners-up, and a number of difficult compromises we had to make).

2. All the bands had to have been signed to an independent label for the given album (ergo, the absence of Nirvana and the Flaming Lips, whose true genius didn't manifest itself until they graduated to the big leagues, but the inclusion of My Bloody Valentine and the Pixies, who originally signed to small labels in the U.K.).

3. The term ''band'' must be taken literally (thus eliminating otherwise unimpeachable artists like Elliott Smith, Sufjan Stevens, and Cat Power).

Okay, so...

Here it is...

From past to present:

1984: The Replacements - Let It Be
1985: The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
1986: R.E.M. - Life's Rich Pageant
1987: Dinosaur Jr. - You're Living All Over Me
1988: Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
1989: The Pixies - Doolittle
1990: Fugazi - Repeater
1991: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
1992: Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
1993: Built To Spill - Ultimate Alternative Wavers
1994: Guided By Voices - Bee Thousand
1995: Archers Of Loaf - Vee Vee
1996: Belle And Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
1997: Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West
1998: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1999: Sleater-Kinney - The Hot Rock
2000: Yo La Tengo - And then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
2001: The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
2002: Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights
2003: The White Stripes - Elephant
2004: Arcade Fire- Funeral
2005: Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
2006: The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
2007: Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
2008: Radiohead - In Rainbows

How do you feel about that?

(Aaron H.)

Valient Thorr's Front Man To Donate Kidney

Valient Thorr's front man, Valient Himself, is taking some time off to donate a kidney to his father.

The band will be postponing all activities April 15th through June 10th.

April 29th, Himself will be going under the knife and will be in the recovery ward until June 10 - Just one week before the band's new record, "Immortalizer" (Volcom Entertainment), hits stores.

Himself is not just giving up the major organ for his pop, he's also joining in with the National Kidney Foundation to help spread the word about donating organs.

"If I can go from a hospital bed to playing in front of a crowd of 75 thousand at the U.K.'s Download Festival in just eight weeks, people out there might consider becoming organ donors as well," he said in a statement. "If they have family members who need a kidney, it's definitely something to think about; and if not, they can still learn about designating themselves as organ donors on their driver's license."

Transplant Services Program Director of the National Kidney Foundation, Catherine Paykin says, "We are delighted that Valient Himself has decided to take his donation story public. We hope that it serves to shed light on the lifesaving power of organ donation and encourages others to get involved. We wish him and his father a speedy recovery."

More information on kidney donations can be found at www.kidney.org or www.livingdonors.org.

(Aaron H.)

New Death Cab For Cutie Song - Live on BBC6

If you were pissed about the new DCfC single release (I Will Possess Your Heart) being too long with a four and a half minute intro, then you're a d-bag... but that's beside the point... Benjamin Gibbard played a solo acoustic version of a new song for BBC6 that will be on their new record (Narrow Stairs).

The record will be released May 13th and the song is called "Cath..."

You can listen to it at Hard To Find A Friend

(Aaron H.)

J. Tillman - Minor Works Review by Aaron H.

I know this record came out a little while ago, but it was recently released on iTunes (FINALLY), and that's where I tend to get my music.

I had the chance to see J. Tillman live in Denton, Texas with Rocky Votolato and Damien Jurado a couple of years ago. I hadn't heard Tillman until that night, and I loved how sincere and rough his songs were. I immediately bought his record "Long May You Run, J. Tillman" at the merch table. I enjoyed the album, but it was a little too quiet. It was the perfect late night album, but it was hard to hear in the car.

Tillman's raspy voice (with Richard Buckner-esque inflections) is laced with heartache and desperation. Fans of Ryan Adams, Nick Drake and Damien Jurado should be right on board for this new-er record.

Take "Long May You Run" and add some volume, a backing band, organ, pedal steel and a dash of devastation, and you have "Minor Works". It's a record that gets better with every spin.

Some notable tracks include Jesse's Not A Sleeper, which has an Alt-Country feel, but isn't overly Nashville; Restlessness is nice and depressing (in a good way); and Now You're Among Strangers is beautifully orchestrated with simple guitar chords, harmonica and heartbreaking vocals.

Since I saw him play in 2006, Tillman has toured with acts like Denison Witmer and David Bazan (two of my all-time favorites) on separate tours. I think it's safe to say, his future looks pretty good.

Rating: 8/10

Download: Jesse's Not A Sleeper, Crooked Roof, Restlessness

(Aaron H. is one of the creators of DFR and reviews music, movies, and whatever the hell else he wants to)

SHUTTER by Angie F.

Before I get into this, let me just say that I am all about the Japanese horror remakes that are so popular with the kids these days. The Ring was pretty fun for me. The Grudge ruled.

This is the kind of cinema whore that I am. I am prepared to fully admit it. I haven’t even seen the original Japanese versions in most cases.

And when I finally did get around to watching Ju-On (that’s the original Grudge, if you’re a dumbass like me), I found it sadly confusing with a jagged timeline that was rather taxing on my poor, flabby American brain.

And yet I consider myself a horror aficionado. But I guess that’s a delusion to discuss some other time. What I’m getting at is this. By the time Shutter came out, I was all psyched for the next trendy re-hashing of a much better film I’ll probably never see.

Shutter is, basically, a paranormal love triangle. Boy meets girl. Girl mysteriously dies. Boy meets second girl and marries her. Dead girl gets really pissed off and, um, shows up in photographs. Mayhem ensues. Positively Shakespearian.

And by now you’ve probably guessed all the plot twists. Oh wait. I don’t remember plot twists. I do remember leaving the theater somewhat depressed that I was no longer stupidly terrified of Japanese women. But that’s probably for the best.


Redeeming Elements:

- Nice shot of some chick walking away in short shorts and red cowboy boots.
- The person two rows behind me laughing during the cremation scene.
- The grossness factor was okay.

The Basics:

- Nipples -- none
- Pop-up-scares -- not so great
- Shout-outs to other horror movies -- other than being a remake, none that I noticed.


RATING: 2 out of 6 chicken wings

(Angie F. is the official "Horror Movie Reviewer for DFR" ... Stay tuned for more Angie F. reviews)

What is DFR?

The winter of 2008 was a mighty beast. When it wasn't busy hurling ice, snow, and below-freezing temperatures at everyone in its path...it was inspiring dangerous ideas in the bored minds of the people it trapped indoors. DFR is one of those dangerous ideas, and if people aren't careful...somebody's likely to get hurt.

DFR mastermind Aaron Hale devised a plan to create a blog where peoples' personal "opinions" would be shared regarding various pop culture diversions. He wanted it all done in such a manner that others could read these "opinions" and even share their own. Aaron started drinking the pop culture Kool-Aid from the very start in an attempt to demonstrate that he wasn't just some West Texas phenomenon. No, Aaron clearly wanted more. This is a man who once wore his clothes backwards to be like junior rap duo Kris Kross, making it really hurt to ride his bike. That's determination.

Fellow contributor Chris Jozwiak may be the guiltiest of all the guilty, though. Upon hearing Aaron's "opinion" about starting a new place to share "opinions", he followed suit by IMMEDIATELY adding an "opinion" of his own. "Let's do it," he said. And now look where we stand. We should have seen this coming when 5 year old Chris was willing to demonstrate his passion for cheesy pop tunes, standing in the middle of Pizza Hut even as his parents tried to eat...belting out "hits" like "We Built This City On Rock And Roll" like it ain't no thang.

As if the idea of these two blogging about music, movies or anything else wasn't dangerous enough...they've decided to search about for more contributors. Clearly, the trouble here is gonna be deep. Deep Fried, in fact. So, y'all better ruminate with a quickness. Currently, the danger level is "Tangerine." Act now while you can.