Return of Razzle

Razzle was one of the best Chapel Hill bands ever. Heavy, harmonized guitar; nimble drums and a bass that sounded as though it was strung with cement. They oft discribed themselves as Thin Lizzy+Big Black--and that's probably right. In any case, they were four of the most talented musicians I have ever seen. They broke up two years ago, but are having a reunion show at the Resivoir in Chapel Hill for a Katrina benefit. A couple members of the band have family in Louisiana. In addition to raising money, people are encouraged to bring old instruments they don't want for the musicians of LA who lost everything.

For us, we get a short return of mighty, real rock-n-roll--in all of it peacock like grandure.

Saturday, April 1, 2006. No lies. The show is free. Bring a donation or an instrument.

The Nein v. America

The Nein have just gotten back from a long tour (and visit to SXSW). It was outrageous. (That's Finn from the Nein in the green shirt, about a foot from MF Doom, watching him grab his dick.)

Pt. One
Pt. Two

SCHOONER

Schooner are a great Chapel Hill band. Here is a great song by them, called "Indian Sunburn." It is off of a new 4 band split cd put out by Pox World Empire called 3X4. The other bands--Erie Choir, The Sames and Summer Set--are also great and it is worth checking out. Here is another great song of thiers: "Stunts, Showmanship and Codes."

Trying to say what makes Schooner so good is difficult. At first they seem good, but fairly normal, but after a while you notice that there is something lurking below the surface: similar to, say, an early Sebadoh song--it is simple and beautiful and seems, at first, sweet, but after a while you sense the sour below the surface. Live, this really comes through. They could be the most crowd pleasing band in the world--and I use this phrase as a negative, meaning, pandering to the crowd, playing it easy, going soft--but there is a subtle oddness, a strain in them that resists. It is hard to describe: Like an attractive kid in school who grows his hair long to hide it; a beautiful girl who wears clothes to large to hide herself. They could just strum and strum and make us sing, but they stop half-way through the song, put their hand over the mic and wait until the good feeling has passed.

This is a very good thing.

I have no comment

Scott Walker

Mr. Scott Walker has a new LP coming out on 4AD. It is called The Drift. Here is a clip of him playing a song--"Rosary"--off of the incredible album TILT.

Landing on Water

"Touch the Night," from Neil Young's great 1986 LP,Landing on Water.

Crix Crax Crux

I don't know who Crix Crax Crux is, but his/their song "Radio On" is pretty damn tight in the Tight Science Dept. All that I have been able to determine is that CCC have recently moved to Durham from Florida and they make some great David Bowie/Sebadoh-esque pop music. "Moth" has muffled sound like Spoon being drowned in a nasty lake by 4-track. There are some syths, some drum machines, and lots of fuzzy acoustic guitars. Pop-Jandek? I don't know.