Author Archives: robert duffy

Over at the conjoined twin side of donewaiting, OH Columbus!, I posted up a bunch of photos I took at the CD release concert for an amazing local band, Miranda Sound. Behold my Annie Liebowitz skillz here.

Foo Fighters, oh Foo Fighters, you make me happy, you make me sad

God I love their first two records. “The Color and the Shape” might be in my top 20 records of all times. But “There’s Nothing Left to Lose” came out, and some lucky kid at San Francisco’s Amoeba Music bought my record really cheap. I hated it. If Dave Grohl didn’t care about these songs, why should I? So I said goodbye to the Foo Fighters.

But dang it all, they’re back with a new record. Why couldn’t we just let things be? Two out of three are good odds. But no, they went and put another record out. I’ve seen the video, I saw them on Letterman last night, and I heard them acoustically on Howard Stern yesterday morning. I’m not impressed.

Granted, I haven’t heard the whole record, but I’m literally afraid to buy it. If it sucks, it may totally negate my love of their first two records. But if I love it, it’ll make me totally forget about that “Nothing Left to Lose” accident.

I sit here, at my desk, quaking in fear of making a wrong decision.

Nirvana vs. Pavemet, Round Two

In late September 1991, Nirvana released “Nevermind” and the entire music world didn’t know what hit them. You obviously know this story. There’s nothing more I can add.

Seven months later, Pavement releases “Slanted and Enchanted.” Hip indie rockers around the world were in heaven.

Here we are. Today, October 30, 2002. Matador Records re-releases a special edition of Slanted and Enchanted, and Geffen releases a best-of for Nirvana.

Nirvana’s best of collection contains 14 songs, spans their entire career, and throws us one .new. song — “You Know You’re Right.” Yawn.

Pavement’s reissue of Slanted and Enchanted is two discs: 48 tracks , 23 unreleased recordings, 8 unreleased songs. The complete “Slanted” recording sessions along with the contemporary “Watery, Domestic” EP, B-sides, compilation tracks, outtakes, two Peel sessions and a complete live concert. HOLY SHIT.

Sure, “You Know You’re Right” is a great song. It reminds me of how much I miss Kurt Cobain. But in these days, I can download ONE song. But an entire concert? Lots of unreleased stuff? That *is* a special occasion.

Somewhere down the line I think they’re going to release a Nirvana box set. I’ll be excited then. But for now, in my poker hand of rock and roll, Pavement trumps Nirvana.

Rolling Stone’s site has a pretty good article about the Sweden rock scene, and the bands that have been birthed from it..

“The Soundtrack of Our Lives are not as abrasive as their predecessors: On their third album, Behind the Music, they opt for a classic rock sound that can touch on both Stones-esque raunch and Pink Floyd’s serene psychedelia. Lundberg says that his band sees itself as inheritors of the Sixties British Invasion bands. “When you really love something,” he says, “you don’t want to see it decline. We just want to keep the feeling going.” Having fallen in love with a fundamentally American art form, both Soundtrack and the Hives now feel confident enough to start selling it back. “It feels like the U.S. didn’t want this music anymore, and we picked it up,” says Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist. “There have always been American rock bands doing it the way we do, but nobody was paying attention. Because we came from Sweden, people got interested.” (full story)

Jam Master Jay Dies in Shooting

“NEW YORK (AP) – Jam Master Jay, part of the pioneering rap trio Run DMC, was shot and killed Wednesday at a recording studio in Queens, a law enforcement source told The Associated Press.” (full story)

Today is no longer a lovely day.

Sigur Ros, Sigur Ros, Sigur Ros

The new Sigur Ros album is out today. And what a lovely day it’s become.

Be a better person: buy it.

N*E*R*D.

Tour of the Year: 2002

That’s what Wayne Coyne, lead singer of The Flaming Lips, is saying about his tour going on right now with Beck. Read it.

DAVID GRAY SETS TOUR

Is David coming to your town? There’s only one way to find out.

In case you care, he is not coming to my town.

YORKE DEBUTS NEW RADIOHEAD MATERIAL

From NME.COM:
“RADIOHEAD frontman THOM YORKE played two unreleased songs by his band – as well as a NEIL YOUNG cover – at a rare solo appearance at this year’s BRIDGE SCHOOL benefit concert in CALIFORNIA last night (October 26).”
(full story)

And a complete review of the entire Bridge School Benefit, which included performances by Foo Fighters, Ryan Adams, and more, can be read here.

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My reviews of recent shows by Wilco, Flaming Lips, Beck, and much more can be found at my OH Columbus! journal.