The Preston Beat

Nicki, Nicki, Nicki...

2012-02-25T16:47:00.001-05:00

What is up with this hoe? All of those multiple personalities inside of her are giving her poor judgement!

Dennis has a Podcast

2012-02-25T16:45:00.001-05:00

Look out for Episode 15 on my friend, Dennis' website, Dennis has a Podcast! I'm the guest host and we're talking about music!

Check this out!

2012-01-13T09:28:00.004-05:00

Happy 2012! First post of the year!

The AV Club had this series of articles going on in early 2011, "My Favorite Music Year" where authors chose and wrote about their favorite year in music.
Here's the link: http://www.avclub.com/features/my-favorite-music-year/

It made me think about what my favorite music year would be. Obviously, my mind goes straight to the 1960's but I don't know if I could pick a specific year. If it were "My Favorite Music Time Period," that would be a given. But if I had to pick a year, I'd agree with Genevieve and Erik and say, somewhere around the early 00's...maybe 2004 or 2005.

But then again, the late 90's were awesome too. It was the start of the Foo Fighters' popularity, Smashing Pumpkins' Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Eminem, Blink 182's prime era, Janes Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, all the pop music that came out...

This is quite the difficult task.

Also, don't worry, I'm still working on the Top 10 of 2011!

Top 10 of 2011 Contenders

2011-12-18T11:09:00.000-05:00

I've narrowed it down to these albums:

The Strokes - Angles
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Foster the People - Torches
Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys
Bon Iver - Self Titled/Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Jay-Z and Kanye West - Watch the Throne
Black Keys - El Camino
Bright Eyes - The People’s Key
Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire
Laura Marling - A Creature I Don’t Know
The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Red Hot Chili Peppers - I’m With You
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

Still have to listen to Coldplay and Red Hot Chili Peppers again before I make a top 10.

What album was your #1 this year?

Album Review: The Black Keys - El Camino (2011)

2011-12-07T13:38:00.001-05:00

First off, let me just say that the fact I’m writing an album review for something that just came out yesterday should say a lot. If you’re an avid reader, you know how late I am with these things.

The Black Keys have come back strong with El Camino. There was a lot of pressure for Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney to come back with something bigger and better than the powerhouse of 2010, Brothers, their major label debut and sixth disc of their career. And they did just that.
The album starts off with a typical Black Keys song and their debut single, “Lonely Boy”: high energy, with Auerbach’s gritty guitar and Carney’s crashing drums. Not to mention, women woes in their lyrics: “So you tore my heart out / and I don’t mind bleeding / any old time to keep me waiting, waiting, waiting...” “Lonely Boy” is a great choice for a single and a great song to start the album off. When I heard it, I thought it was so good, I feared El Camino could be one of those albums where only the single was good and the rest was kind of “eh” because they’ve put so much energy into making the debut so good - I’m looking at you Brandon Flowers’ Flamingo, Jimmy Eat World’s Chase This
Light, Interpol’s Our Love to Admire and anything else they’ve done after that. It’s not just the artists I’ve mentioned though, it happens to a lot of Rock acts these days, especially if it’s an album releasing after a huge hit.
They then continue on with some songs that have potential to be classics: “Dead and Gone,” “Gold on the Ceiling,” “Little Black Submarines” and “Run Right Back.” Seriously, the first half is just back to back with really amazing songs - creatively and technically. All of them I’ve just mentioned (and I feel the same way with a lot of songs by The Black Keys,) sound like something not created in this time period - it really feels like it’s the 1960’s or even 1950’s Blues. The Black Keys are so important to current music, I think, because of that - they’re doing something that’s on a completely different level than most bands out there. Popularity and being “well-liked” doesn’t influence them at all - it all comes from within them. The other band I also strongly feel that way about is Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s - very different sound from The Black Keys but they seem to have very similar views on making music and etc.

Anyway, I digress, as I often do.

Other songs to look out for include “Sister” and “Nova Baby.” I’m not sure yet since it only just came out yesterday, but I’m pretty sure this is my favorite Black Keys album yet...and I know since it’s so new, I might get flack for saying that since Brothers and Rubber Factory are the end-all, be-all of the Black Keys discography. But give it a couple listens and then get back to me. You might start to see where I’m coming from. The thing is, there are a couple of songs on Brothers where I’m like, “okay, I can listen to this once or twice and then I’m tired of it,” such as, “The Go Getter” and “Unknown Brother,” but El Camino NEVER ceases to loose it’s steam. Every track has something really interesting about it and something to get you hooked. _{Photo courtesy of Wikipedia}

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 22

2011-12-07T12:29:00.001-05:00

Day 22 - A Song that You Listen to When You’re Sad

Now that I think about it, A LOT of Fiona Apple.

Also the wonderful and truly missed, Amy Winehouse.

Andrew Bird announces New Album and Tour

2011-12-06T11:14:00.001-05:00

Pitchfork just reported that Andrew Bird has announced a new album for March 2012 titled Break It Yourself. Sounds kind of angry for Andrew Bird, no?

He's also going on tour later this month with one of his opening acts being Laura Marling...unfortunately there aren't any New York dates with her so enjoy it for me, West Coast! Check the story out HERE.^{Photo from SweetLyrics.com}

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 21

2011-12-06T10:58:00.001-05:00

Day 21 - A Song that You Listen to When You’re Happy

Honestly, when I'm listening to music, I'm generally happy so this is kind of a loaded question (as cheesy as that sounds). So I'm just going to go with two songs that I've been listening to a lot lately...

The Black Keys "Gold on the Ceiling"

This song is amazing!! One of my favorites on the newly released today, El Camino.

The Flying Burrito Brothers "Sin City"

I've been listening to A LOT of Flying Burrito Brothers/Gram Parsons lately. I saw this documentary Lost Highway Records released: The History of American Country - here it is on YouTube - and when they talked about Gram Parsons, they basically said, "No Gram Parsons = No Ryan Adams" so obviously, I was intrigued. My boyfriend also really likes him so I knew that there was something there I would probably like. And it's very true, no Gram = no Ryan. It's such a bummer that Gram died so young because he would have been probably still making great music.

What did I just watch?

2011-12-02T10:42:00.001-05:00

Check out The Killers' new single, "Cowboys Christmas Ball." Yeah, you read it right. I still can't believe they actually released this and thought "This will totally sell! No one's gonna think we're loony tunes, they'll think we're geniuses!" I have news for you, Brandon Flowers, it's the former. And P.S., I think he's had a little work done since last time I've seen him...

Watch the video here on Stereogum. (And thanks to my friend Melissa for bringing it to my attention!)

A lot of news about The Black Keys!

2011-12-02T10:32:00.001-05:00

I am so excited for El Camino. The album comes out next Tuesday and from what I've heard, it's pretty amazing. It seems like they definitely haven't let their fans down.
Listen to five new songs here on their website and check out their tour dates! I know I'll have to go see them. _{Photo Courtesy of Last.fm.}

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 20

2011-11-04T09:47:00.000-04:00

Day 20 - A Song that You Listen to When You’re Angry

Descendents "Suburban Home"
(so happy there's an album version of this on Youtube now. If you remember when I started this in May, it was listed as one of my favorite songs and I couldn't find it on Youtube.)

Against Me! "Baby I'm an Anarchist"
When you're angry, Reinventing Axl Rose is the best way to go.
Misfits "Astro Zombies"

Suicidal Tendencies "Institutionalized"
ALL I WANTED WAS A PEPSI!!!!
I also like how Mike Muir is obviously not a teenager in this and he's all "What's up, I still live with my parents and that's totally legit..."

I do also adore the version of "Institutionalized" Senses Fail did for the Tony Hawk: American Wasteland soundtrack. I might even like this better than the original. Probably the only thing Senses Fail has done that I've ever liked. ^{(My Chemical Romance also did a cover of Misfits "Astro Zombies" for the same soundtrack, by the way. Which is also worth a listen...I know it's MCR but, trust me.)}

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 19

2011-11-02T16:02:00.002-04:00

Day 19 - A Song from your Favorite Album

Correction: Day 19 - A Song from ONE OF your Favorite AlbumS!!

I've said this many times before. I just don't have ONE favorite album of all time. I have commitment issues with that, it seems. I can never just pick one. And I'm an album person so I think it's especially hard for me. You know how sometimes people are like, "I'm just going to buy ONE SONG from Nightmare of You" - that doesn't work for me. I need the album and I need to listen to it in its entirety before I listen to specific songs. But anyway, on to Margot & the Nuclear So and So's...

I love this band more than Kim Kardashian loves her $18 million dollars she got paid to televise her fake ass marriage.
They haven't been the same since their breakout, The Dust of Retreat but they're due for another good egg and it'll come sure enough for them, I think. "Quiet as a Mouse" is one of my favorites from the album, aren't you surprised I didn't choose "Skeleton Key"?

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 18

2011-10-16T12:05:00.000-04:00

Day 18 - A Song that you Wish you Heard on the Radio

Jack's Mannequin "My Racing Thoughts"

Every so often, I'll hear one of my favorite bands who aren't "radio-friendly" on the radio...Rilo Kiley, Ryan Adams, even! But I've NEVER heard Jack's Mannequin on the radio. Why is that?! I feel like he would be all over alternative rock radio.

Oh well, he doesn't even need radio - he has a pretty substantial fan base without it.

There's always money in the Banana Stand...

2011-10-02T20:55:00.001-04:00

Not music related BUT I'm so overjoyed by this news I really can't help posting this...and it's also my blog...SO I'LL DO WHAT I WANT!

Arrested Development creator, Mitch Hurwitz was at the New Yorker festival today along with the cast. They announced that they will be filming a FOURTH SEASON for television AND a movie, both set for a 2013 release. Read more about it here.

Seriously, is it 2013 yet?

Blink 182 - Neighborhoods

2011-09-26T09:32:00.001-04:00

Oh and by the way, Neighborhoods comes out tomorrow. If you're an old school Blink fan, like Cheshire Cat/Dude Ranch era especially, I would suggest giving yourself AT LEAST 2-3 hours of alone time so you can cry into your pillow after listening.

Ashes and Fire streaming on NPR right now!

2011-09-26T09:26:00.002-04:00

Listen to Ryan Adams' October 11 release, Ashes and Fire on NPR's website! Unfortunately, I can't listen to this now but I'm SO excited for this.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 17

2011-09-26T09:15:00.002-04:00

Day 17 - A Song that You Hear Often on the Radio

Foster the People "Pumped Up Kicks"

This song is a monster on the radio because now it's popularity has crossed genre's so not only is it being played on rock radio stations, but pop stations as well. "And that was Rihanna with 'S&M,' here's that kooky rock band that no one has heard of until now, even though this single came out in March and has been overplayed to death on rock radio, Foster the People!" Sound familiar?
Even though I am kind of sick of this song and am digging "Helena Beat" way more, I still enjoy it when it comes on the radio. It's kind of impossible for me not to love it...I mean, come on...back in the day when Reebok pumps were cool?! I see what Foster the People did there!

A Lament for Music Critics

2011-09-14T12:22:00.002-04:00

Please stop overthinking everything. Thanks.I don't mean to single this critic out but I was reading Joshua Love's review for Laura Marling's new disc, A Creature I Don't Know, on Pitchfork and his focus of the review seemed to be very trivial. Then I read the Pitchfork review by the same author for Alas I Cannot Swim, which released in February 2008 and he focused on the exact same things! He said in both reviews that because Laura Marling writes lyrics that are so "beyond her years," it's a possibility that her charm as an artist will dissipate after "those years catch up to her" - when she gets older. Another theme that seemed to be present in both reviews is the fact that when you listen to Marling's lyrics, you're not sure what time period it is because she never mentions pop culture references or "clues" to determine when this song is taking place.
Exhibit A:
"Laura Marling's music feels timeless. I don't mean "timeless" in the sense that people refer to, say, Adele or Duffy as timeless, when really they're really just evoking a very specific time that happens to be distant. Marling evokes other artists, too, but they're spread out over the past five decades of pop and rock, from Joni Mitchell, Fairport Convention, and Leonard Cohen to Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, and PJ Harvey. Still, her songs feel divorced from time, lacking clues or signposts to indicate whether her stories and scenes might be set 500 years ago or yesterday."
While I wholeheartedly agree that the artists he mentioned she's "evoking" is dead on, I really don't get why he continues to focus on these points I've just mentioned. I know that he's a CRITIC and of course he's going to be bias and mention the things he feels is important but I know that when I'm reviewing something I try to keep my focus on one thing: THE MUSIC and what I feel about THE ALBUM YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT. I'm not going to write about how this artist MIGHT BE in the future, if they'll flourish or squander, I write about how this specific album is and sometimes, I'll compare it to their previous works because I think an artists' discography shows their progression as an artist and if they've learned anything from previous albums, just kept it the same, etc. But I don't think it's necessary to be like, "I don't know, this chick is doing well now, with that Mumford & Sons tie and everything, but her time is almost UP! JUST YOU WAIT!" Come on, now.
It's not just this guy who does it though and if he ever see's this, I'll feel terrible but I couldn't help myself! It's more than half of critics out there who focus on their hang-ups with the artist rather than the album they're supposed to be writing about. It's annoying. I'm just getting tired of seeing it everywhere. It's okay to talk about it a little bit but don't make it the focus of your review. Write about what you're getting paid to write about - if you want to write a feature on this issue, feel free to do so LATER.
Fin.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 16

2011-09-06T16:34:00.001-04:00

30 Day Song ChallengeDay 16 - a song that you used to hate but now love.

I remember listening to my mom's vinyl of Magical Mystery Tour (which I've now inherited,) when I was really little and how afraid I was of listening to "I am the Walrus." I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the "HA HA HA OH OH OH HEI HEI HEI HA HA HA!" parts and the whole ending of the song in general. A few years went by after listening to it for the first time before I said to myself, "okay, I can listen to this now..."
Walking down memory lane aside, this song is pretty epic and I've grown to really like it throughout my years of listening to Beatles albums on repeat and dissecting everything about them.

Have you seen the cover art for Jack's Mannequin's new album?

2011-08-31T12:03:00.003-04:00

I kind of love it!

People & Things comes out October 4 on Sire Records.

Album Review: Bon Iver - Self Titled (Jagjaguwar, 2011)

2011-08-07T11:41:00.005-04:00

The fact that this album is self titled is really surprising. A self titled album usually represents and displays everything the artist embodies. Their most predominant musical characteristics, if you will. For Justin Vernon, Bon Iver is not his standard modus operandi. It’s way better than that.
The album starts off with “Perth,” a really powerful introduction to the journey you will be taking to find a side of Vernon you didn’t hear on For Emma, Forever Ago. “Perth” starts off slow and ends with a big finish. The brush drumming effect throughout the song gets louder and louder, adding trumpets, electric guitar (gasp! That’s almost like Dylan going electric! Almost.) and crashing symbols. You feel like a marching band is going to bust into your room listening to the song and to Vernon’s credit, it isn’t cheesy, he makes it work.
The album then flows right into songs like the more funkier “Minnesota, WI,” a psychedelic and vivid “Michicant” and “Calgary” (“Skinny Love”: 80’s style,) all of which are not only key tracks on this album, but also should be considered musical accomplishments to Vernon. Also like “Perth,” they’re relatively out of his comfort zone and to experiment on a sophomore album, is downright ballsy and should be respected. (In fear of the dreaded “sophomore slump,” a sophomore album can basically turn into their first album, part deux.) The winteresque atmosphere he possesses on For Emma, Forever Ago is still apparent in his music, Bon Iver is just a more intricate and busy version of it. It’s more apparent that Vernon worked harder to find different instruments to use for a more interesting sound. Organs, bangos, various horns, he’s got it all here. He even uses a little autotune on “Wash.” (which he also used on “Woods” on the 2009 4-track release, Blood Bank EP) Eat your heart out, T-pain!
I’m saving the best for last. This review wouldn’t be finished without mentioning “Towers,” which has now got to be tied with “Skinny Love” as my favorite Bon Iver song. It’s one of his most catchiest songs he’s released and hands down, the most beautiful song on the album. The song’s core elements are definitely folk, where Vernon usually shines and therefore, the most traditional Bon Iver song on this album. I guess that goes to show that even if Vernon can kick ass experimenting with different sounds, he’s still always going to deliver with that signature back woodsy folk and his eminent high pitched murmur.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
(Picture courtesy of Wikipedia.org)

Hiatus! I'm sorry!

2011-08-01T10:06:00.002-04:00

I'm in the process of moving and will hopefully be finished soon but until then, I'm going to go on a mini-hiatus...I know, I don't like it either but I literally have no time to write. I'm trying to bang out a Bon Iver review for Scene Point Blank at the moment so look out for that while I'm gone from the blog! Have a great week! And here's a little Tears for Fears for you:

Ryan Adams covers Vampire Weekend's "Mansard Roof" and "Oxford Comma"

2011-07-20T10:48:00.006-04:00

These are a few of my favorite things.

Ryan Adams and Vampire Weekend!

Adams posted the videos on his facebook and I can't seem to find an embedding option so I'll just link them. Watch here! And here!

I personally like his version of "Mansard Roof" better than his version of "Oxford Comma." "Oxford Comma" is really hard to pull off though, in his defense.

Can't wait to hear some new music from Ryan Adams. He's working on an LP right now with producer Glyn Johns who has produced...well, a shitload of albums. He's also Ethan Johns father, a very good friend of Adams who has worked with him a lot in the past (He produced Heartbreaker, Gold, 29, Demolition and Whiskeytown's Pneumonia.)

Let's talk about Blink 182 for a Second, Shall We?

2011-07-19T07:29:00.005-04:00

First of all, what the hell is this? It sounds a little like Blink 182. You can totally hear Travis Barker's unmistakable drumming in the background but...no! They must be Blink imposters.

Yeah, that's it. Imposters.

No? This is Blink's NEW single, "Up All Night" from their new album that they've been working on for like, three years now?

Really?

Are you sure?

Cause it's really bad!

And no, I'm not going to pull a "they sound like Angels and Airwaves" argument which seems to be what a lot of people have been saying about it, from what I've been reading on the internets. Which I totally get, but it's not the heavy AVA influence that bugs me the most, it's the fact that it seems like they just aren't trying...or they just don't care anymore. The nonchalant-ness is just seething through the speakers as I listen to it. If you don't care, why get back together? Just let us have our Tales from Beneath Your Mom stories and our internet rants about how they were so good when we were 14 and how they should get back together (of course, we wouldn't have known what the product of that would be in a perfect world).

UGH.

Are you really sure that's Blink? Like, cross your heart? I don't want to believe it.

In honor of them sucking, here's one of my favorites, "Josie":

This is also pre-Tom not being a douche bag and that's quite refreshing, don't you think? Sometimes I forget that he wasn't.

And I know I was pretty mean but they need some tough love, I think. Cause they totally read this blog.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 15

2011-07-19T07:25:00.001-04:00

30 Day Song Challenge
Day 15 - A Song that Describes You

No Doubt "Just a Girl"
Pretty self explanatory.