4.15.2009
The Canon, Examined: American Music Club – “Everclear”
As far as reunions go, American Music Club‘s hasn’t garnered quite the attention of the Pixies or My Bloody Valentine. But then, they were never ones for the limelight. The California band split after 1994′s San Francisco and reformed almost 10 years later for 2003′s Love Songs For Patriots; frontman Mark Eitzel arrives at Largo on Saturday and is the weekend’s top ticket if you’re not at Coachella. First, though, let’s look back at where he began in our latest installment of The Canon, Examined. Read the rest of this entry »
For the last decade — since 1998′s Before These Crowded Streets officially, and since 2001′s widely bootlegged Lillywhite Sessions in actuality — Dave Matthews Band has gone from being one of pop music’s most interesting acts to its most predictable. Since the radio cop-out Everyday, the group has largely sacrificed the rich arrangements and wide-open songwriting that made them great in favor of half-baked mediocrity. (If you want to argue that they’ve always sucked, I’ve addressed that 
If John Vanderslice hadn’t once told me that “guitars and marijuana love each other,” I would’ve described Midlake’s The Trials of Van Occupanther as ol’ JV smoking a few bowls and throwing on his Time-Life: AM Gold box set. Of bands of recent vintage, Midlake’s wide, crisp production recalls the open arms of the Acorn’s acoustic guitars as well as the aforementioned Vanderslice resemblance (the vocal similarities are uncanny, though not distracting), but it’s the past that drives their words. I missed Midlake when they released this album in 2006, but their influences are no less evident now – Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, a little Crosby, Stills & Nash. 
A short week, due to some technical issues. We’re back to normal now. While you’re here — if you’re looking for something to do tomorrow night, folks, head to Spaceland. L.A.’s three best power-pop bands (yes, really), the Henry Clay People, the Broken West and the World Record, will be playing a free show as part of the Henry Clay’s residency. It’s going to be a G20 summit for guitars.
