THE ATTAGAG (pronounced AT-A-GAG) once a radio show about pop culture, is now a blog about pop culture from the perspective of a guy who spends way too much time thinking about pop culture. So much that he mentioned 'pop culture' three times. Oh wait, now four.
Each song title on Dream Shake's self-titled debut is named after a woman. What does that mean? Are they ex-girlfriends, conquests, high school crushes, or simply nine ladies that singer/songwriter James Nee promised he would write and record songs for?
The track "Buffy" hints that these names are loosely connected. The fast-paced guitar-heavy tune and the eight others are homages to fictional females from pop culture. You have the aforementioned vampire slayer and characters from various TV shows, such as "Friends", "Degrassi Junior High", and the NICK series "Cailtin's Way."
"Coraline", which I immediately think of the character from the Neil Gaiman novel and film adaptation, reminds me of mid-1990s Sonic Youth, a dreamy and mysterious track that sounds like it was created out of an impromptu jam session in the studio late one night. Clocking in at just over four minutes, it would be a delight to hear this track for a few minutes longer, much like a Sonic Youth song.
The guitar riffs that build up to each song's climax, or chorus, and Nee's soft yet confident vocals bring a dreamy, intentionally nostalgic aura over the course of 30 minutes--the length of a TV episode.
Nee, formerly of the pop/rock band We Are Trees, is a Virginia Beach native who claimed in an post on the band's website that no one will get the references, stating he is "too nerdy for real girls." Well, the nine women here should be flattered that a musician has written some well-executed, short but sweet love songs in their honor.
It has been over three years since M.I.A. has released an album, and the back-story for Matangi is almost as enciting as the musician's work on this release. After delaying Matangi's release for being "too positive", she threatened to take the album from Interscope and release it herself. (Luckily, she has the backing of the record giant, at least this time.) Though one could understandably be concerned for an artist who has openly courted controversy (i.e. flipping off viewers during the Super Bowl halftime show) to suddenly possess a sunny deposition.
Can you believe that "Bad Girls" was released almost two years ago?!
The singles released over the past eighteen months are here, but the deep cuts are also worth the wait. Her collaboration with The Weeknd in "Exodus"/"Sexdous" are some of the album's finest highlights, an instant R&B radio hit waiting to happen. Musically, the album is all over the place. "Bring The Noize" has those fast-paced verses that suddenly sound like they are going in reverse. There is a roll call of countries in "Matangi" over clattering percussions. There is chanting, a boxing bell, personal lyrics about her struggles, and more. Even though she doesn't have Top 40 radio in mind, the frantic yet familiar "Come Walk With Me" would be refreshing to hear on the FM dial in moderation.
M.I.A., who named this album after the goddess of music, Matangi, does not wish to concentrate her energies or concerns on what else is going on in the music industry. Noting that this is her "spiritual album", Matangi is a vastly compelling piece of pop music that only reinforces that she is at the top of her game, no matter how long she is away.
Grade: A-
Recommended tracks: "Exodus" (feat The Weeknd), "Come Walk With Me", "Bring The Noize", "Lights"
This all-female quartet from Seattle (whose name is Spanish for "The Light") have released their debut album, and it sounds almost nothing like Seattle, a city with a dreary climate that is still best known for (and trying to get past) its grunge heyday. The key word is almost.
On the surface, this is a light, surf-pop record, like Best Coast or the newest from Washed Out. But once you get past the upbeat riffs and the four-part harmonies, there is some sinister undertones and medleys, especially in "What Good Am I?", a slow and steady track that would fit well in a mixtape for a late night drive or in a 1950s jukebox for heartbroken lovers. It sounds like it came out of a film noir.
This is immediately followed with "Sunstroke", a short and quick-paced instrumental with an organ player to accompany the haunted house aura. "Pink Slime" has a nostalgic yearning for the days of So Cal in the early 1960s, when surfers were kings of the waves and the Beach Boys were soundtrack of their lives.
The title track, which further emphasises the haunted rock that they hide underneath the surf pop, is the strongest track on the album. This song would fit well in a 1960s teen surfing flick that took a wrong turn and became a suspense or horror thriller, or a psychotic acid trip (like Head or Easy Rider). Maybe zombies pop out of the sand and start attacking the blondes on the beach.
UPDATE: The band have cancelled the rest of their tour after being involved in a severe car accident. A fund has been set up to help pay for bills, new equipment, van, etc. For more info on how to help or to find out more about the band, go here.
Grade: B
Recommended tracks: "Sure As Spring", "What Good I Am?", "It's Alive"
Just a year after the release of The Only Place, Bethany Cosentino and
Bobb Bruno have new music ready, a
"mini-album" (or EP) titled Fade
Away (released through Cosentino's own Jewel City record label). With plans
for a new LP next year, this seven track selection of songs about heartbreak
portrays Best Coast as a band growing up.
''This Lonely Morning'', the
opening track and single (and one of the highlights of the seven-song EP), is most
likely her most mainstream friendly single to date. It is definitely more
polished in terms of production and lyrics than the adolescent
"Boyfriend" or "Crazy for You", but not too polished to be
thrown into the increasingly-generic stadium rock that is crossing over into
Top 40 and "adult contemporary" radio.
According to a press release,
Cosentino was musically inspired by Mazzy Star, Patsy Cline, and My Bloody
Valentine. She was also inspired by Ambien. Yes, the same stuff that people use to treat insomnia. Does this mean this record will help you fall asleep? Nope.
The reference to Ms. Cline sounds
out of left field, until you hear the track "I Wanna Know", with
lyrics that sound like they could have belonged to the country queen's catalog.
"Tellin' lies it's a big surprise/Gazing into each other's eyes." And
then there is "Baby I'm Crying", which fits perfect in a jukebox to
play at a nearly-empty country bar on a dark and lonely night. It would be interesting
to hear these tracks covered by a country singer, or at least performed by Best
Coast as an acoustic version.
With the exception of "This
Lonely Morning", each song on here is at least over three minutes in length.
There isn't a rush to throw on speedy guitar riffs and too-easy choruses to complete
the song and move on. The best example of the slightly-slower paced Best Coast
is on "Fear of My Identity", the best song on Fade Away. The lyrics
tell a story about confusion and fear that is both personal ("The hate is
getting darker/And the fear is growing larger") and universal ("The
fear of my identity/Is standing right in front of me").
Fade
Away
is more calm, confident, and content with itself than the all-over-the-place and
over caffeinated atmosphere of Cosentino's previous work.
New music! Here are five songs to check out this week. Create a playlist, or improve one. All track are available to purchase online or stream at various streaming services.
Tune into my radio show on chirpradio.org on Tuesdays 12-3pm, and check out The Attagag podcast at Soundcloud.
Best Coast "This Lonely Morning"
Random fact: Their upcoming EP, Fade Away, arrives on October 22. Check back here for a review later this week.
Ezra Furman "My Zero"
Random fact: Furman began her musical career performing with the Harpoons, which met in 2006 and began performing while attending Tufts University in Boston.
Album: Day of the Dog
Chrvches "Lies"
Random fact: The Scottish synth-pop band performed a stellar cover of Whitney Houston's "Ït's Not Right But It's Okay" for BBC Radio. Check out here.
Album: The Bones of What You Believe In
Slushy "SF Gals"
Random fact: Slushy hail from the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. Way to go local talent. You know who else is from Logan Square. These guys....
Brother Ember "Electronicsh"
Random fact: The same studio Eric Sherman and Co. record is the same studio where The Attagag records.
Last Saturday, a bombshell was
dropped onto fans of Doctor Who when
the BBC and Matt Smith announced that the adored actor was leaving the wildly
popular and beloved series at the end of this year, following the 50th anniversary
special that is set to air in November. According to the BBC and show
runner/head writer Steven Moffat, the Doctor will regenerate in the 2013
Christmas special.
To say fans were in shock is an
understatement. How does one comprehend what has happened?
The best way to explain a Whovian's
emotions at this dark and strange hour would be through the Kubler-Ross model,
a very reliable device that is best known as the five stages of grief.
Denial
Whenever something bad happens,
whether it's the death of a loved one or the loss of something important, most
people go into denial. It can't be,
you say. This. Is. Not. Happening. Say it
ain't so. Sometimes there are signs that this bad thing was going to happen
no matter what. We just didn't see the signs. Or worse, we ignore them and only
see what we want to see.
I did see a sign that the
Eleventh Doctor's days were numbered. A few weeks ago I attended a Doctor Who
convention at DePaul University, a day-long event where in addition to meeting
with other Whovians from all over the city--and beyond--there were panels about
the show and screenings of classic and contemporary Doctor Who episodes. Right
after this, I spoke with a friend and fellow Whovian who didn't make it to the
event. She told me that she read a story in a trade magazine that Matt Smith
was not returning for the eighth season. "He hasn't signed on yet,"
she said. "That's nonsense," I replied. "He's coming back. He's
at the top of his game." She did not react. "He is coming back."
Fans will deny that they did not
see this coming. Hate it break to you, but it was coming. We just refused to
see the signs. When the BBC officially renewed the show in May, they did not
mention Smith at all.
"We're
delightful to confirm a new series of Doctor Who has been commissioned and the
show's lead writer and executive producer, Steven Moffat, has revealed he's
already plotting a brand new run of adventures for the Doctor."
--BBC
release, May 18, 2013
The key words in this statement
are the following that should have had Whovians in a tizzy that Smith was, to
quote Tom Haverford, "donzo" with being the Doctor. Brand new and Doctor. Just omit "and" in the previous sentence, and what
do you get?
Anger
After you're done hitting your
head for not seeing the obvious, you are now getting angry. You didn't read the
signs about Smith leaving. Or maybe you're angry at the former floppy-haired
actor, who recently shaved off his treasured locks (along with clothing to
reveal a ripped physique in publicity stills) for a starring role in a movie
that began filming stateside this past spring. Ryan Gosling sought out Matt
Smith for a starring role in his directional debut, the drama How to Catch A Monster, which began
filming in Detroit in April. He is trying out new different things, and some
people don't like change.
How
could you?!
is a reaction you may have said or thought. Some fans see Smith as the Doctor, not an actor delivering a
superb performance in a television series. When the recently departed Jean
Stapleton (R.I.P.) would walk down the street, people often called her Edith
Bunker, before she politely told them her name was Jean. (It was reported that
she received condolence letters addressed to Edith when her on-screen husband,
Carroll O'Conner, a.k.a. Archie, died in 2001.)
The Doctor is so iconic that it's
tough to simply walk away from it. Tom Baker, Peter Davidson, Colin Baker,
Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston, and David Tennant are
still recognized, critiqued, and lauded for their Doctor tenures. It's almost
like being President. Bill Clinton is often in the headlines for his philanthropic
endeavors, oratory skills, and charitable works, visits overseas (whether for
the U.N. or his self-named Foundation), but you still recognize him as once
being the President of the United States.
Smith could become a Hollywood
A-lister, become his generation's Laurence Olivier, win Oscars, become a bad
boy turned reformed beloved star (a la Robert Downey Jr.), become the star of a
hugely successfully franchise, or simply appear in Ryan Gosling's movie and
never to be seen again, but he will always be remembered and recognized for
Doctor Who. He will always have people hate him for either leaving the show
after only four years or for not meeting expectations that some fans had when
he succeeded Tennant. Like anyone else, some people are always going to be
angry at you and me. But being angry is exhausting and life is too short to be
angry over things we cannot control or change.
And c'mon! How can you be angry
at this guy?!
It's not every day you get Dustin Hoffman to get you to kiss a complete stranger. And he's super bashful and adorable about it.
Bargaining
It is tough to bargain with a big
star on staying on a show after a certain amount of time. Smith already has
three full series (or seasons) of adventures (plus Christmas specials, video
game appearances, and a couple of shorts for the BBC's Red Nose Day telethons) under
his belt, not to mention he will still be the Doctor for the already-historic
50th anniversary special. Actors leave shows all the time before they wrap up
for good (or get cancelled). Steve Carell left "The Office", as it
began to suffer creatively and in the ratings, opting to becoming a movie star
full-time. Shelley Long left "Cheers" just as the show was reaching
its peak to try her hand at a career in Hollywood. And every year, several
members of "Saturday Night Live" leave that show after mostly-lengthy
tenures to venture into other projects and callings. Smith seems to be doing
the same thing.
Depression
I did not go through bargaining
(probably because I don't have Moffat or Smith's cell phone numbers) or anger
(because I learned long ago that it is useless to be angry at these that are
out of my control), but I was in denial and depressed. I was introduced to
Doctor Who on a rainy day, when I was at home, bedridden. I couldn't sleep, so
I began watching TV. BBC America was not airing any episodes of
"Absolutely Fabulous" that morning, but they did have a rerun of
"The Eleventh Hour", which premiered a couple of days before. I knew
people who watched Doctor Who, but I myself didn't think I would be into it.
After watching "The Eleventh
Hour", I went to BBC America On Demand and watched several more episodes
(all David Tennant ones). When Whovians ask one another who their Doctor is,
they often choose the one they saw the first time they ever seen an episode of Doctor Who or which one they like the
most or grew up with. Tennant is an extraordinary Doctor, possibly one of the
Top 3 greatest, but my answer is the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith. Part of the reason
is that as I was suffering from a terrible cold and unable to move without experiencing
a great deal of pain, his performance as the funny man with the blue box made
me feel better, or at least made me forget that I was sick as a dog.
His lively personality, youthful
demeanor (which occasionally leads him to act like a child) infused with his
centuries-old wisdom, and vanity and stubbornness (not to mention how
manipulative he could be) are some of the things that appealed to me. But the
big personality trait that had me sold on him was his general awkwardness. I
have never defeated armies of Daleks and Cybermen or jumped into my own
timeline to try to save the woman who was born to save me, but I have done a
terrible job at dancing at a party, reacted oddly when in various romantic
situations, and worn questionable hats, thinking they made me look cool. Like
Liz Lemon and myself, this Doctor was often in social scenarios that he did not
understand, and acted appropriately in them. (Best example of his awkwardness:
when he became temporary roommates with Craig (James Corden) in "The
Lodger" and "Closing Time") Side note: Now my dream of having a
"Doctor Who" series where Smith is the Doctor and Corden is his
companion will never happen :(.
Acceptance
Unlike David Tennant, the 30-year
old actor seems to have Hollywood on his mind, plus he's only thirty. He was born in the same decade
as me, which means he's a young guy (or in the eyes of snotty kids born after
the death of Kurt Cobain, we are the exact opposite of fun's "We Are
Young".)
This is the perfect time for a
male actor to develop a fine acting resume. He's no longer stuck playing
youthful roles (unlike some American actors who are stuck playing high school
or college-age kids on TV) but can still appeal to the teens and
twenty-somethings at the multiplex or TV. Hopefully his agent will get him some
more iconic and outstanding roles along the best and brightest talents
stateside and in his native United Kingdom.
He's appearing in How To Catch A Monster, which co-stars
Eva Mendes, Christina Hendricks, and Saoirse Ronan. He seems to be ready to
venture outside the Tardis for good and try out new things. We know he can
tackle serious dramatic fare (see the BBC films The Ruby in the Smoke and the outstanding Christopher and His Kind) as well as comedy (his overall playful
demeanor on "Doctor Who", in addition to his talk show appearances).
I like Matt Smith. I would love
it if he not only became the "next big thing" but he develops a rich
career in movies and beyond. There are probably writers typing away at their
computers roles and dialogue specifically for him right now. He's got the
talent, the looks, and the mix of down-to-earth charisma and stylish confidence
to become a leading man.
Look, this day was going to come.
If he didn't leave this year, it would have been next year, or the year after
that. He's leaving at the top of his game. It would have been depressing if he
overstayed his welcome and the quality of the show were to be compromised.
Plus, now we can figure out who
is going to be the Twelfth Doctor. Who on Earth is going to occupy the Tardis
and join Clara Oswald (Jenna Louise-Coleman, assuming she's still with us for
Series Eight) on this brand new run of adventures? #
Think I saw @nathanrabin on my way out@ work on his laptop. If that was u, just wanted to say thanks. @ebertchicago is why I love @theavclub
— Eddie Sayago (@EddieSayago) April 12, 2013
