That's Mr. Tower

John K. Samson - Provincial

2012-01-24T21:42:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I screwed up on the Craig Finn solo album.

It will be a different story with the new solo album from John K. Samson. Guy is an amazingly talented and consistent songwriter. I simply don't understand Pitchfork's indifference towards The Weakerthans' albums.

Yes buddy can be verbose, but the quality of the songs can easily make you forget about it. Although I have to admit I didn't get Reunion Tour because I thought it would be more of the same from Reconstruction Site.

But now Forkchop owes John K. a good review.

Look for a 7.7 for this album about Manitoba.

Porcelain Raft - Strange Weekend *

2012-01-24T09:40:00.003-05:00

Porcelain Raft eh? Never heard of em!

I'll try 7.8.

Actual rating: 7.4. Point differential: 0.4.

Craig Finn - Clear Heart, Full Eyes *

2012-01-20T12:28:00.004-05:00

I'm back again. It's been an eventful two months since I last rapped at ya (ht: JA again) but I'm back with my two cents on a new album by some guy I've never heard of - Craig Finn (sp?).

I'm joking of course. The new solo album by Craig Finn is easily the biggest deal on Pitchfork so far this year. Craig and his band are Pitchfork darlings and I'm not afraid to tell you one of my favourite recent groups. One of the most reliable bands out there. When you're in the mood for The Hold Steady you can put the albums on shuffle and you're going to get exactly what you need.

But when you're not in the mood for what I like to call booze-punk or Hold Steady-inspired drinking, apparently this new solo album by Craig Finn might be just the tonic you need for your tonic and tonic.

It's gonna be interesting. I have always thought of Finn as a lyricist first and a musician second, so to hear an albums' worth of songs totally by him will be different. I haven't heard any of it yet, so I'm preparing myself to be surprised. My iTunes credits are waiting for this one on Tuesday.

Anyways, down to business.

Not that it's any indication of how a solo album will be judged, but I should note that only one of the Hold Steady's five albums has ever been rated lower than 8 by The Fork. That one album was Heaven is Whenever, and it got a 6.2. A little harsh if you ask me, but hey what do I know about album reviewing? My thing is predicting album reviewing.

And in that area, I am the Big Cheese. Not to be too arrogant or anything.

My point is, Forkchop loves Craig Finn. And while a huge part of the Hold Steady's appeal is Tad Kubler's gigantic guitar work, Clear Heart, Full Eyes will absolutely be judged on its own merits. And as a student of "good" music and a master lyricist, the only way Finn will get anything lower than 8 for this album is if Celine Dion reviews it. If I had to give an exact guess, I would say 8.0.

Let's leave it at that.

Actual rating: 6.0. Point differential: 2.0.

Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow *

2011-11-17T20:17:00.003-05:00

Let's see, there's snow, precipitation, flurries, flakes, um...sleet?

Anyways I don't know why I bother. Is this even on that other site's radar? They weren't sold on Kate Bush's last original album (6.4), and I know nothing about this one so have nothing to go on.

In fact I know very little about Kate Bush other than the big songs off Hounds of Love. Remember the video for Cloudbusting, with Donald Sutherland? Awesome! I'm not ashamed to say I still play Running Up That Hill and Cloudbusting on occasion.

According to Wikipedia, Rolling Stone says this new album "finds a universe of emotions in its wintery theme – a sort of virtual snowglobe..."

Seriously! Guess the editor was off that day. That sounds fucking stupid!

I'm going to throw out a 7.2. That's pretty average.

Actual rating: 8.5. Point differential: 1.3.

Los Campesinos

2011-11-16T07:58:00.003-05:00

One of the Campesinos told me via twitter that my website idea is terrible. Hey! Who died and made you an expert on website ideas!

But the comment (heartless and cowardly as it was) began a period of serious self-reflection on my part. And I'm pleased to say I have emerged from this period as a much stronger person.

It would be easy to pack it in, knowing how Los Campesinos! feels about my website, but that wouldn't be fair. It would leave a huge hole in the Pitchfork-rating-prediction area. There are people out there - three daily unique-page-views worth of people - who rely on me for what I do. I can't leave them lost like newborn puppies to search out other sources of album rating predictions. There are no such other sources.

So I'm going to keep doing what I do. And if Los Campesinos! doesn't like it, well, that's too bad. Deal with it. Stop obsessing already!

In the meantime I was off by 0.1 on the band's new album! Pretty good!

R.E.M.

2011-11-15T07:42:00.002-05:00

Fucked that up! I was way off. I wouldn't make a good music reviewer obviously. I'm not objective enough.

That's why I do what I do.

Tommy Stinson

2011-11-11T08:16:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to recommend the latest album from Tommy Stinson to my tens of readers. It's called One Man Mutiny.

Here's a link to arguably the best post-Replacements song. And here's a cool live version.

R.E.M. - Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011 *

2011-11-10T19:51:00.005-05:00

I used to love this band so much back in the day. It was my first taste of "alternative" (along with the Violent Femmes), and I still pull out the old "LPs" once a year or so.

But I never got over what happened in the 90s.

While I do think fans of R.E.M. are usually pre-Out of Time or post-Out of Time (barring the few songs from Document and Green that were played to death), Out of Time isn't the band's worst album from the 90s, in my opinion.

Out of Time was actually pretty good once you got over a few songs. It was still "alternative" music. If you think back, alternative hadn't quite become mainstream at that point and there were enough indecipherable lyrics and jangly guitars on the album that it still had a passing resemblance to the R.E.M. of old. Yes Losing My Religion made the band huge the same way Stand made it huge in 1989. But it was still modern rock, not mainstream rock. I'm not one of those insufferable fools who will say "Shiny Happy People killed R.E.M."

Automatic for the People was more of the same for me. It was the anti-grunge R.E.M. There was more crap on there, but no more or less than what was on Out of Time.

What really killed R.E.M. in my opinion was Monster. I bought it, listened to it exactly twice, and have never played it again. Then the insufferable E-Bow the Letter came out from New Adventures in Hi-Fi and I was officially done with R.E.M. Hard to believe that was 15 years ago.

Which brings us to now and what is apparently the final R.E.M. release - a greatest hits compilation of sorts. One convenient release for fans of what I call the Two R.E.M.s - pre-Out of Time and post-Out of Time.

I wouldn't buy this release, simply because I intentionally didn't buy most of the albums represented on the second disc, and everything I want on the first disc I already have. Plus, even the early parts of the band's career are not well represented on this one. If you're reading this and you are seriously thinking of buying an R.E.M. compilation, buy the one that came out in 2006 that focuses more thoroughly on the band's early years.

However I will happily predict the rating this one will get on that other site. It's easy actually: it will be 7.8.

Actual rating: 9.4. Point differential: 1.6. Oops!

Los Campesinos! - Hello Sadness *

2011-11-03T06:47:00.004-04:00

I have been digging Sirius XM U for the past couple of months, where this band's new singles have had the shit played out of them. It's reaching a point where I'm getting sick of the new one (By Your Hand), but you can't deny the poignancy of a line like "I'm not sure if it's love anymore, but I've been thinking of you fondly for sure."

Anyways these guys are as typically indie as you can get - they have more than the normal number of band members, they share last names, and there are boys AND girls in the band. Crazy. These factors and more likely explain the love from Pitchfork. The band's three albums all hover around the 8.3 mark over at that other site.

Why mess with a good thing?

Let's say 8.1 and go get a coffee.

Actual rating: 8.0. Point differential: 0.1.

Atlas Sound - Parallax *

2011-11-01T21:56:00.005-04:00

Y'ever see Walk Hard? It's one of my favourite movies. "You don't want none of this dirty old Cox."

Anyways this guy Bradford Cox is like hipster-indie royalty. I have the first album he threw together as Atlas Sound. I like it. It's good. And I'm not just saying that to impress you.

PF really liked it too, blessing it with an 8.6 when it was released. It gave the next album an 8.2. Both received the coveted "Best New Music" label.

There will be more of the same for the new one. We're predicting an 8.4 around these parts.

Actual rating: 8.7. Point differential: 0.3.

Justin Bieber - Under the Mistletoe

2011-11-01T21:16:00.002-04:00

PF won't review this. We all know it. But the people are asking what I think, and I hate to disappoint the people. They are the reason I'm here, doing what I do with remarkable irregularity.

Let's just say 3.3.

Radiohead - The King of Limbs *

2011-02-18T16:00:00.001-05:00

A quick one here...9.3.

Actual rating: 7.9. Point differential: 1.4.

Decemberists goodness

2011-01-18T15:16:00.003-05:00

Well holy shit! Looks like I still got it.

My prediction for the new album from the Decemberists was so close...so tantalizingly close. It's going to make my Top 10 list!

I guess it's like they always say: once you learn how to predict the Pitchfork rating for upcoming releases you never really forget!

The Decemberists - The King is Dead *

2011-01-16T01:03:00.004-05:00

I'm a little out of practice.

But I have to start somewhere. The first prediction of the new era is the new Decemberists album, The King is Dead.

Now I'll admit, I hate this band. I find it boring, and Colin Meloy's voice makes me want to do bad things.

But this new album is apparently country-informed.

Which does sound promising.

Unfortunately I don't think it will be the good type of country-informed. I'm pretty sure this album will continue the Decemberists brand of what I like to call douchebag-indie.

But it isn't about me. It's about the rating.

I'm predicting a 7.1.

Actual rating: 7.2. Point differential: 0.1.

Back again

2010-12-14T13:08:00.002-05:00

It's coming back.

It's been almost three years since Mr. Tower last pontificated in these parts.

It's an astoundingly long time. So long, in fact, that when Mr. Tower last posted, Eliot Spitzer was still banging high-class hookers. Now he's hosting a show on CNN with some weird-looking old broad.

It's a different world.

Albums have been released. Presidents of all colours and religions have been elected. Seasons have changed, changed again, then changed a few more times.

And of course Mr. Tower is older and wiser.

But he's also less up-to-speed on music. The last album he bought was Robyn's Body Talk Pt. 2. And he's not even into Robyn. He bought it based on Pitchfork's love of Robyn. But he liked both pts. 1 and 2.

It's shameful actually, how quickly one loses touch with music if one takes oneself out of the scene for a few months. Mr. Tower doesn't even know what genre is big these days, but word on the street is the Arcade Fire is somehow involved.

So consider this the end. The end of the Predictfork hiatus. The end of Mr. Tower's time in the musical wilderness. The end of me talking in the third person.

It is a new beginning.

Welcome to the new beginning.

Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark *

2008-01-23T21:01:00.000-05:00

Gotta get this up before PF gets its review out. We predict a 7.2. Actual rating: 8.2. Point differential: 1.0.

The Whigs - Mission Control

2008-01-21T14:28:00.001-05:00

Don't know too much about this band, but I've read reviews that compare it to The Clash, The Who, The Replacements, Pavement and a few others I can’t remember right now. The inclusion of Pavement in that list intrigues me...

I’ll probably pick this one up. I'll let you know what I think. For now, I predict a 7.8. Actual rating: pending. Point differential: TBC.

Promising start to 2008

2008-01-14T09:36:00.000-05:00

Missed by 0.1 on new The Magnetic Fields album!

Black Mountain – Into the Future *

2008-01-07T12:54:00.000-05:00

Everything you need to know about this band can be summed up thusly: Art Collective. I predict a 7.9. Actual rating: 7.4. Point differential: 0.5.

The Magnetic Fields – Distortion *

2008-01-07T12:52:00.001-05:00

Has it really been almost a decade since 69 Love Songs was released? Like many other people I took my favourite songs from those three albums and made a one-cd best-of. It was excellent. Will this regular-length Magnetic Fields cd be as good as my personal best-of cd? Probably not. Every one of those songs was brilliant.

At the same time, PF gave 69 Love Songs a rating of 9.0. I find that astoundingly high. Maybe it got extra marks for thematic execution.

I don’t see how this latest Magnetic Fields album will get more than an 8.1, and it won’t include anywhere close to as much “filler” as 69 Love Songs. More proof that all art is subjective, and record reviews are stupid. Actual rating: 8.0. Point differential: 0.1.

Marah – Angels of Destruction

2008-01-07T12:46:00.000-05:00

I once had an English teacher named Mr. Stalmach. He was old and had an odd way of writing on the chalkboard, with his elbow bent awkwardly way out from his body. I used to refer to the time spent in his classes as The Stalmachian Age. Nobody thought it was funny then either.

Which brings me to the latest age: Springsteenian. Or, as it is known by its scientific name, Bossism. Def. Bands whose albums, or, in some cases entire careers, are based on the influence of Bruce Springsteen.

The Killers would qualify for Sam’s Town. The Hold Steady too, not only for its general musical similarity, but for writing my favourite Boss song ever that was not written or performed by the Boss: You Can Make Him Like You. Then there would be the gold standard in Springsteenian: Marah, which would be responsible for approving every other band’s entry into this esteemed category.

Springsteenian. It could be…no, it should be its own musical category. Write your congressman today!

Prediction: 6.4. Actual rating: pending. Point differential: TBD.

Which province is that in?

2008-01-05T21:57:00.000-05:00

I've heard people refer to Canada as part of the U.S., but never before the other way around.

British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?

2008-01-04T23:29:00.000-05:00

PF seems enthusiastic about this one, based on its review of the EP leading up to the album. For my first prediction of 2008, I'm going with a very 2008-like 7.6. Actual rating: pending. Point differential: TBD.

Let's try again

2008-01-04T13:11:00.000-05:00

I only have one New Year's Resolution: to do everything I meant to do in 2007 but didn't due to laziness, procrastination, etc.

It's not a long list, but some of the items are time-consuming. They are mostly creative indulgences; new and worthy ones get added to the list as my brain snatches them from the ether. The list includes more predicting of new albums.

Which I guess means I have a sub-resolution: to not be lazy and not procrastinate. This is obviously key to the achievement of my main resolution, but really it's the same thing in the end. Because after all, if I get everything done that I meant to get done, then I haven't been lazy and haven't procrastinated.

It's an exciting time to be me.

Everybody wants prosthetic foreheads on their real heads

2007-12-18T09:43:00.000-05:00

I kind of wanted to do a year-end list of some kind. The problem is I didn't buy many albums this year (thanks indiesurfer.blogspot.com!), and of those few I did get I wasn't crazy about the whole album. The Shins and Spoon certainly included. And I also only downloaded albums I was really interested in or curious about, so I didn't actually do too much downloading either. So that said I feel like a "best of" list would be an exercise in wankery, and I hate that. (And yes, I understand blogging itself is an exercise in wankery.)

There were lots of songs I liked and downloaded. In fact I would like to think of 2007 as the year of the song, if only "the year of the song" didn't sound so dumb. But because of the Ipod I would switch songs all the time, either on shuffle or via playlists, and rarely listen to a whole album. But then when I tried to think of my favourite songs from the year, many of them were from last year, or the year before that, or the 1980s or something.

So my solution is to post my 20 most played songs from 2007. Keep in mind I got a Macbook in April, and transferred my songs from my Ipod to my Macbook in the summer sometime, so this list only reflects plays of the past five or six months.

Also, it doesn't include songs from:

All, which, being the first band in my "Artists" list, plays when I accidentally turn my Ipod on;
the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack, which is huge with the kids;
the Spongebob Squarepants Movie soundtrack, for reasons similar to the above; and
"No" or "Here Come the ABCs" by They Might Be Giants, which I love but again only dominate the play count because of the kids.

Nor does it include "Move Along" by the All-American Rejects, which is also known as the Lego song and hence also popular with kids.

So if you've read this far and have pretended to be interested and still care to pretend you're interested, here it is! Sorry I forgot to note the actual number of plays...

Don't You Evah - Spoon 2007
Rythm and Soul - Spoon 2007
Oh Mandy - Spinto Band 2005
Thalassocracy - Frank Black 1994
You Got Yr Cherry Bomb - Spoon 2007
Eddie's Ragga - Spoon 2007
I Hear the Rain - Violent Femmes 1984
What You're Doing - Beatles 1964
Hold Me Tight - Beatles 1963
Massive Nights - Hold Steady 2006
Candyland - Killjoys 1994
Spanway Hits - Flake Music 1998
Run It - Replacements 1983
Working to Work - Field Music 2007
Ahkenaten - Julian Cope 1992
We Want a Rock - They Might Be Giants 1990
Do Me a Favour - Arctic Monkeys 2007
Black Like Me - Spoon 2007
Paper Tiger - Spoon 2002
Stuck in the Middle - Replacements 1982

Wankery over.

Missing time

2007-12-17T11:40:00.000-05:00

Has it been four months since my last post? Crazy how time flies. Amazingly I had no emails begging me to start posting again...

While reading Andrew Carver’s excellent natcaprock yesterday I stumbled upon what has become one of my favourite songs of 2007 - Oh Dead Life by Dog Day. I love it. Have a listen on the band's site; buy it if you can find it and support this fine Canadian band. I wish I had known about the show it just played in my town. Next time!

Travis Morrison - All Y'All *

2007-08-15T15:43:00.000-04:00

Goddamn it seems I have returned just in time! Apparently, next week is the release of Travis Morrison’s second solo album. Yes, that Travis Morrison. The one who used to be in The Dismemberment Plan. The one who received a 0.0 from PF for his last album. The one whose last album did very poorly, possibly – according to some people – because of said PF review, but I’m not sure really since I don’t track that kind of thing myself!

But onto the new album. One thing is certain: it will not get a 0.0. Apart from that, I really have no idea what to expect. I’m going to suggest 7.2. I think PF may feel it needs to redeem itself and make up with Travis in the only way it knows how: by giving moderately favorable record reviews. At the same time, Travis may have worked his ass off with this album to ensure he doesn’t get slammed again. Actual rating: 4.5. Point differential: 2.7.

Did anyone buy Travistan? Was it any good? I honestly never heard it after reading the PF review.

Buffalo Tom - Three Easy Pieces

2007-07-09T15:31:00.000-04:00

The indie band reunions continue. Buffalo Tom is the latest band to realize there is money to be made from its former fans. That’s not a criticism. In fact, if I was an aging indie rocker I would probably do the same thing. Play some shows, try to recreate the magic, and make a few extra bones along the way. I can’t see this album sounding any different from other Buffalo Tom albums: a few outstanding tracks, some throwaways and three or four songs that sound too much alike. I predict a 6.7. Actual rating: pending. Point differential: TBD.

Interpol - Our Love to Admire *

2007-07-09T15:29:00.000-04:00

What can you say? Interpol is Interpol. That's about it. If the band tried to do something new, it would probably lose most of its fans. I’ll predict an 8.4. Actual rating: 6.0. Point differential: 2.4.

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga *

2007-06-28T10:53:00.000-04:00

What's up motherfuckers!!! After a long month spent fulfilling my various international obligations and helping small countries everywhere expand the size of their environmental footprint, I'm back to rescue this blog and help you achieve true enlightenment.

And what better way to do so than with a phrase that sounds as if it was plucked directly from the mouth of an ancient Greek philosopher: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.

Indeed. I have no fucking clue what it means.

But the album it graces is brilliant. I downloaded it a few weeks ago (don't worry, I'll be buying it too), and while at first I thought it was ok and contained only a few standouts, it has gotten better and better and better. In fact, I like it more than Gimme Fiction. Not that Gimme Fiction is the defining Spoon album, but everyone had a hard-on for that album; I honestly think this one is better, and certainly more consistent from start to finish. I think it is a perfect mix of the sparsity, simplicity and creativity that I love about Spoon.

I thought the PF review of Gimme Fiction was astoundingly accurate in describing the band, its sound and its progress. I really think PF will see Ga5 (I made that up, you can use it if you want) as a step backwards for the band, so much so that it will get a lower rating than Gimme Fiction. Let's say a 7.3. Actual rating: 8.5. Point differential: 1.2.

Despite the Handsome Furs thing...

2007-05-25T22:21:00.001-04:00

...I'm not shutting down the blog! What else would I do with my 5 minutes of free time each day?

New Spoon mp3

2007-05-18T12:52:00.000-04:00

Check this guy out for a new Spoon song called The Ghost of You Lingers, among other things.

Handsome Furs - Plague Park *

2007-05-18T12:31:00.000-04:00

If this doesn't qualify as Best New Music, well I should just shut this bitch down and start a new blog about taxidermy or summat. The band is from Montreal (the guy is in Wolf Parade) and it's good enough for Sub Pop. It's a guarantee motherfuckers! I'm predicting an 8.4. Actual rating: 7.2. Point differential: 1.2.

The Bravery - The Sun and the Moon *

2007-05-18T12:16:00.000-04:00

What a shitty name. What a shitty band. How bad does PF hate them? 4.8 sounds good to me. Actual rating: 1.8. Point differential: 3.0.

Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars *

2007-05-14T15:37:00.000-04:00

I missed Sky Blue Sky (probably for the best since I would have been off by a wide margin) so I'll throw this one up here now. PF hasn't been too crazy about Rufus since 2001. I'm certainly not too crazy about him myself. I just don't understand his fascination with jock rock. I find it all a bit too violent and offensive. Nevertheless, I'll predict a 7.1 for his latest collection of booze-fueled stadium-rocking anthems. Actual rating: 6.7. Point differential: 0.4.

Travis - The Boy With No Name *

2007-05-07T13:57:00.000-04:00

In a way, albums by bands like this are the hardest to predict. You know they will get hammered, but you don't know how badly. PF ratings for Travis albums have been on the decline since The Man Who, and to be honest I don't even think this one will get reviewed.

In a review of Travis' last album, the reviewer said "nothing here has any edge," but gave the album a 5.1. I'm going to assume nothing on this new one has any edge either, and predict a 4.5. Actual rating: 5.6. Point differential: 1.1.

Bjork - Volta *

2007-05-07T13:52:00.000-04:00

I just realized this album hasn't been reviewed yet by PF, so let me get on it. In fact, it doesn't look like PF has reviewed any of Bjork's albums. Strange, no? For this, 7.9. Actual rating: 5.8. Point differential: 2.1.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81 *

2007-05-01T15:41:00.000-04:00

I haven't listened to this band since a friend made me a copy of its first album. It was pleasant enough; I never really gave it a good listen apart from the first few songs.

PF gave it an 8.2, followed by a 6.9 and 7.0 for subsequent albums. I'll predict a 6.8 for this new one! Actual rating: 4.5. Point differential: 2.3.

0.2s

2007-04-26T09:04:00.000-04:00

Things are really humming along here, with 0.2 after 0.2 after 0.2...you get the idea! And yet readership is down. Maybe I need to start offering mp3s?

I was just running some numbers (that's technical jargon for adding and subtracting) and realized that on 20 of the 49 albums I have predicted, I have been off by 0.5 or less. I find that astounding.

I do it all for you, my faithful reader.

Future Clouds & Radar - S/T *

2007-04-24T09:48:00.000-04:00

Nary a mention of this on PF. I had never even heard of it until reading about it today on largeheartedboy. I downloaded some mp3s from there; haven’t listened to them yet. What I’m trying to tell you is I have little to go on. There is a positive Paste review on amazon.com, and it made some customers’ “Best of 2007” lists on that site. Not that that says much, since two of the lists also included James Morrison, and one of them included a new album from Joey McIntyre (yes, that Joey McIntyre).

Anyway, this is apparently some serious psychedelic pop. I can’t decide if that’s good or bad. I’ll predict a 7.8. Actual rating: 4.0. Point differential: 3.8.

Bill Callahan - Woke on a Whaleheart *

2007-04-23T22:31:00.000-04:00

Nothing much to say here: 7.1. Actual rating: 6.9. Point differential: 0.2.

Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare *

2007-04-23T14:08:00.000-04:00

My God! Someone needs to chop down the tree that is providing the Arctic Monkeys with such horrible and/or boring album names. I mean, WPSIA,TWIN and WTFATAM?, and now FWN? Girlfriend, please! But then I always thought the band name was terrible too, so the rest is really no surprise.

Fortunately the music more than made up for it on the first album. There were a couple of lows, but the highs were outstandingly high. Higher than the statue of that guy in that square in London where all those birds seem to congregate. Normal birds mind, not the type the Arctic Monkeys would be referring to. I think PF’s rating of 7.4 for the first one was pretty accurate; I may have suggested 7.8 if I’d been consulted.

My point is this: The first album had some fucking quality songs on it, and it only got a 7.4. There is simply no way this album will be better on the whole, and no way it will get a higher rating.

That’s all there is to it. I predict a 7.2. Actual rating: 7.4. Point differential: 0.2.

Klaxons...Klaxoffs...Klaxons...Klaxoffs...

2007-04-18T09:22:00.000-04:00

Get that into ya! An impressive 0.2 off on the Klaxons album. May God save those who are trapped below the Earth.

Elk City - New Believers

2007-04-17T12:14:00.000-04:00

PF hasn't reviewed an Elk City album since 2002. Which actually makes a lot of sense because the band hasn't released anything since 2002.

This is yet another band I am not familiar with, although the name immediately made me think of Shell City, you know, from the SpongeBob Squarepants movie.

Patrick: Shell City.
SpongeBob: Yeah, we never made it to Shell City.
Patrick: Shell City.
SpongeBob: Exactly, buddy. Yeah, the place we never got to.
Patrick: Shell City.
SpongeBob: Okay, now you're starting to bum me out, Patrick.

Seriously, I could talk about that movie all day, if I wasn't an adult and it was socially acceptable to do so. Take my word for it, it's funny. If you're reading this blog, you obviously understand I have an amazingly incredible sense of humour, so it must be funny. Anyway, my prediction for this one will be 5.9. Actual rating: pending. Point differential: TBD.

Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero *

2007-04-12T21:53:00.000-04:00

This one will be reviewed, of course. While PF doesn't appear to have assigned a rating of any kind to the first single from this album, it gives it the ol' hipster beat down right here. It seems Trent Reznor has become predictable and formulaic. I'm shocked! He's like Bono now. But for industrial/goth/depressed people. I'll say 4.8 for this one. Actual rating: 6.7. Point differential: 1.9.

Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn Thing

2007-04-12T21:49:00.000-04:00

Is it possible? Is Avril reviewable by PF? It doesn't look like any of her albums have ever been reviewed, however, two singles from her last album received a combined total of 1.5 stars. That tells me everything I need to know about what this album will get, should it be reviewed. Which it won't. Or will it? No. But just in case: 2.1. Actual rating: pending. Point differential: TBD.

Grindhouse and junk

2007-04-11T12:55:00.000-04:00

Man, I have sucked lately! My predictive powers must be weakening.

I saw Grindhouse last weekend. There was a great song (movie songs always sound better cause they're so fucking loud) I had never heard, by an old 60's band I had never heard of called Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. It seemed ridiculous that the young character who mentioned it would do so. In fact, it sounded like a made-up band name, but then I knew Tarantino likely wouldn't use a made-up name when a perfectly obscure real one would fit. And now, having looked it up on allmusic.com, I truly appreciate the brilliance of the band and song choice:

...were led by vocalist Dee (born: David Harman), an ex-policeman who had been at the scene of the automobile accident that took the life of American rocker Eddie
Cochran and injured Gene Vincent in April 1960.

Blonde Redhead - 23 *

2007-04-05T10:37:00.000-04:00

What's that you say? Another prediction? Alas, your eyes are not deceiving you. After being beaten to the punch by PF on a number of releases lately, I wanted to get some more of my shit happening here before the day is over and I'm drunk again and unable to type full sentences.

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the concept of a blonde redhead. It must be some absolutely hilarious inside reference to a carpet-not-matching-the-drapes scenario, if you know what I mean.

But back to the music. I don't know much about this band, and to be honest right now I'm not motivated to find out anything else about it. I know it's got a chick singer who may or may not wail artily, but I need to go buy a fucking raincoat, so to get to the point I'll predict a predictably arty score of 8.3! Actual rating: 7.0. Point differential: 1.3.

Paul Wall - Get Money--Stay True

2007-04-05T09:58:00.000-04:00

All I know about Paul Wall is that he is the king of the grill, or as PF called him, the clandestine dentist. I feel there is little else I need to know. PF was pretty hard on one of the songs from this album. I've read some of the rhymes, and the good news is they sound like they were written by a dentist. I'll predict a 4.3. Actual rating: pending. Point differential: TBD.

Bright Eyes - Cassadaga *

2007-04-01T23:02:00.000-04:00

I have become bored of Bright Eyes. Fortunately I don't need to try to explain why to you; I simply need to attempt to predict the rating for its new album.

PF wasn't thrilled with the last release, giving it a 5.9. By my calculations, that means this new one is guaranteed to received at least 1.0 higher than that mark. After all, two sub-par reviews in a row by PF is, allegedly, enough to seriously affect album sales for the artist in question, and cause the average temperature of the Earth to increase by 0.2 degrees, causing water levels to rise overnight and drowning all humans under 3'2". That's right: no more Verne Troyer. Nobody wants that. He was hilarious that time he got real drunk on the Surreal Life!

I predict a 7.3 for this new one! Actual rating: 6.0. Point differential: 1.3.

Kings of Leon - Because of the Times *

2007-03-28T15:11:00.000-04:00

I've never gotten into these dudes.

I vaguely recall seeing a guy wearing a Kings of Leon shirt and indie-goggles (Ha! I just made that up. That's my new term for those square-rimmed hipster glasses) a few summers ago. He probably annoyed me in some way, so naturally I came to the conclusion that any band he liked must suck balls.

And when I loaded the band's last album onto my iPod, the songs ended up all garbled-like. Surely another sign.

And now, well, there's just too much music to listen to. I mean, I don't have time to get into every band that comes out! There are dogs' feet to be sought out and stepped on!

For you, oh kings of southern indie-rock, 6.8! Actual rating: 5.4. Point differential: 1.4.

Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future *

2007-03-26T15:14:00.000-04:00

Hello again, I'm sure I've lost all my readers, but I'm back! Today's prediction is for a band I've never heard of: Klaxons. One of the worst band names in recent memory, but hot hot hot with the kids! I'll go with 7.7 for this one, and I promise to come back soon. Actual rating: 7.5. Point differential: 0.2.

The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

2007-03-05T09:08:00.000-05:00

I kept meaning to post on this one, but I kept putting it off until finally it was too late. For what it's worth, I agree with the person who left comments saying they thought the album would be a lower rating than 8.4. I was going to say around 7.5.

Funeral was a defining moment for modern modern rock (yes that's 2 moderns). And if you liked it, you'll like the new one. It is more of the same. In fact, I have taken to calling it Funeral 2. It's not a bad album, and in fact I like it when bands find a sound they are good at and stick with it. But judged on its own merits, 8.4 seems high.

The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse *

2007-02-18T21:26:00.000-05:00

Apologies to my two daily readers, but I've been really busy lately and had little time to do anything else. And damn, I missed a bunch of new releases during the past few weeks!

Anyway here is the latest prediction. The Besnard Lakes is apparently an up-and-comer from (where else?) Montreal. I am pretty sure the band played my town recently. I am pretty sure I missed the show. I'll predict a 7.3 for this merry band of hipsters! Actual rating: 8.2. Point differential: 0.9.

Of Montreal, of iTunes

2007-01-26T12:36:00.000-05:00

I bought the new Of Montreal album from iTunes last night. This was a significant purchase for me. While I have bought a few songs from iTunes, this was my first complete album bought online, with no actual cd to hold in my hands. As such, it was a very emotional evening. The internal struggle made me a bit crazy; I drank much more than my normal nightly amount of lemon tea, and in fact I may have cried once or twice with the realization that I have reached a new stage in my music-buying life.

I really wanted the album. Normally when I really want an album I will go to the cd store. But I was drunk on tea, and it was -31 outside with the wind chill. Then I thought about iTunes; to be honest, I had been thinking about iTunes a lot lately. The album was only $9.99 on iTunes. That is a very good price. And really, I haven’t listened to an actual cd since getting the iPod just over a month ago.

So I bought it. I’m listening to it now. It’s very, very good, and I feel a little bit sad and dirty.

This is what is sounds like when fauna hiss

2007-01-24T11:06:00.000-05:00

If you ignore my wildly off-base Shins prediction, I'm on a bit of a roll lately. Two 0.1s and, today, a 0.2 for the new Of Montreal album. Funnily enough, yesterday while waiting to buy the Shins album I was stuck behind this incredibly annoying woman at the cd store. She wasn't actually buying anything, just engaging the clerk in a discussion about Montreal, and stopping me from paying for my cd. So I politely put the cd on the counter in the middle of her conversation, signifying my desire to pay, she gave me an ugly look as in "how dare you," so I stepped on her dog's foot on the way out! I'm nothing if not passive-aggressive.

Oh yeah, the "funnily enough" part was that during the Montreal discussion I asked the clerk about the Of Montreal album cause I was going to buy it too, but apparently there are some distribution problems so it wasn't in.

Confession

2007-01-22T10:34:00.000-05:00

It's official. I'm a Shins fanboy. How else can I explain the whopping 2.7 point difference on my Wincing the Night Away prediction? Regardless, I think I'll enjoy the album much more than PF did.

But I was very close (0.1 off) with the new Sloan album! In fact, in the past two weeks I have had two predictions miss by 0.1. This pleases me.

Parsefork

2007-01-19T11:07:00.001-05:00

Just found out about Parsefork via largeheartedboy. A useful tool for those of us who attempt to predict PF ratings.

Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity *

2007-01-18T20:47:00.000-05:00

I recently downloaded a couple of songs off this new album. I had never heard anything by the band before. Let’s just say that on first listen, I am not a fan. I’ll give it a chance; maybe it will grow on me.

I have no idea what this one will get or how to predict what it will get, so I ran some quick calculations (thank you Windows calculator) on PF’s ratings for previous Deerhoof releases. From what I can tell, the band’s previous five albums have received an average rating of 7.9, with a high of 9.0, and a low of 6.0. I’m going with the average and predicting a 7.9 for this new one. Actual rating: 8.9. Point differential: 1.0.

Close one

2007-01-15T12:30:00.000-05:00

A remarkable 0.1 off on the album from The Good, The Bad & The Queen!

The Shins - Wincing the Night Away *

2007-01-12T14:33:00.000-05:00

Hipsters. They suck.

I may have hipster tastes and sensibilities, but I am not a hipster. I am unequivocally anti-hipster. How else could I show such shameless devotion to This Shins? A true hipster would never publicly admit he worships a band like The Shins; a band that gained a hefty chunk of its popularity by being name-checked by Natalie Portman. A true hipster would be worried others would think he discovered the band via Portman in Garden State. (Yes, I realize most normal, well-adjusted adults don’t think about shit like this.)

I did not discover The Shins by watching Garden State. I did, however, discover the band via the video for New Slang, which is the song Portman suggests will “change your life.” She was right. From the time I heard that song, my life changed; my measuring stick for great music changed. To me, there is The Shins, and then there is the rest of my music collection. I’ve bought and downloaded some outstanding music since discovering the band, but nothing comes close. The music is simple yet inventive; the lyrics are thought-provoking and meaningful, but sound effortless.

So I am clearly biased in predicting the rating for Wincing the Night Away. I haven’t heard the album. In fact, I have intentionally not downloaded songs from the album when I have come across them on-line. The anticipation is annoying. It’s 2007. Who waits for anything? But at the same time I feel like I did when I was younger and would have no choice but to wait the standard 18-24 months for a new album to be released from any of my assorted favourite bands.

I know James Mercer will not let us down. Will PF give this one a fair shake? Or will it get caught up in the hype, or the anti-hype? I already made my prediction a few posts ago, but I’ll make it official here: 9.7! Actual rating: 7.0. Point differential: 2.7.

Sloan - Never Hear the End of It *

2007-01-08T16:31:00.000-05:00

The last Sloan cd I bought was Between the Bridges. I don’t think I listened to the whole thing. I loved One Chord to Another, but I grew tired of Sloan and there were plenty of other things to pay attention to musically after 1998. But this new Sloan album has 30 songs! Apparently it even has snippets of songs that shouldn’t even be considered “songs” as we know them. I like it when old bands do shit like this. Will PF remember Sloan? I think its role in Canadian music history is underappreciated. Canada’s current hip bands should thank Sloan for helping clear the path for them. They should do it via email, and also in old-fashioned letter format. I’ll predict a 7.6 for this latest Sloan effort. Actual rating: 7.7. Point differential: 0.1.

Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? *

2007-01-04T15:54:00.000-05:00

Another one from the crop of sacred modern indie bands, adored by hipsters everywhere. PF hasn’t been incredibly kind to the band; it appears its highest-rated album got a respectable 8.3, while the rest hover around the 5s and 6s. Indications are this album is mind-blowing, but in a good way, not like in Chuck Norris’ Missing in Action III.

In fact, I’m listening to the stream right now. On first listen it's good, I find it interesting and different, and a bit like The Shins. I’ll predict an 8.5. Actual rating: 8.7. Point differential: 0.2.

Happy New Year!

The Good, The Bad And The Queen – S/T *

2006-12-28T13:15:00.000-05:00

Yes! My New Year’s wish for another band fronted by Damon Albarn has been granted! Based on an October news item, PF thinks this band sounds a lot like Gorillaz. I don’t have much else to go on, so given that Demon Days got a 6.9, and the debut fared little better at 7.0, I’ll suggest PF is getting tired of Albarn’s side projects and creative outlets and predict a 6.7 for this one. Actual rating: 6.8. Point differential: 0.1.

Ghostface Killah - More Fish *

2006-12-13T23:36:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy night for Mr. Tower, but I figure I should at least get in a prediction.

I see PF gave this chap's last album, which came out earlier this year, a 9.0. There is no way they would give a quick follow-up like this a similar mark. But I've heard this one's good too, so I'll predict an 8.2. Actual rating: 7.3. Point differential: 0.9.

Album of the Year

2006-12-13T22:59:00.000-05:00

This won't be your typical AOTY wankfest where I spout off about the hip albums I bought this year. I didn't buy that many albums this year. I downloaded a shitload of songs - probably 500 to 1000 individual songs - and I judged many new albums by those songs.

I discovered some great stuff, and I also discovered there are a lot of shitty songs that come out every week. This reinforced my belief that I can create music people will hear whether they want to or not.

When I think back to the albums I did buy, and what stood out, it is very easy for me to pick a winner. If you have read this blog more than once you probably know who it is. If you know the definition of the term "indie cred" you also probably know who it is.

Yes, I am going to go way out in left field with this one and pick an album that very, very few people heard in 2006, let alone liked: Boys and Girls in America by The Hold Steady. What's that? You've heard of it? Well, what about Joanna Newsom? You've heard of her too? I simply don't believe it. Surely you've never heard of a fellow named Sufja...oh, I see.

Ipod

2006-12-13T22:46:00.000-05:00

I bought an Ipod online. Did you know Apple ships them from China? They are the absolute ultimate model for online shopping. I bought it Friday night, I even got an engraving on the back. It was shipped 12 hours later: from mainland China, to Hong Kong, to Anchorage, to Memphis, and then to my town five days later. Unbelieveable.

Where are all the Wiis? They must get shipped by boat.

The Shins - Phantom Limb

2006-12-02T08:39:00.000-05:00

I know this is just a CD single, but as someone who - while the anticipation is painful at times - refuses to seek out the leaked version of Wincing the Night Away, this is all I got to feed my Shins obsession. I don't think PF typically reviews entire CD singles. They already reviewed the song Phantom Limb, but I got this is the mail yesterday and wanted to talk about it to someone.

There are so many incredible things about James Mercer as a songwriter, but let me focus on his melodies. I remember reading an interview once where he was asked how he writes songs. He says he comes up with a chord progression and then adds a dominant melody and there you have it. Many people probably write songs that way; I know I often do in my attempts. And yet my melodies sound forced, whereas his sound revolutionary.

So what really struck me with the two songs on this CD single that I had not heard until 30 minutes ago was that the unheard melodies in Shins songs have a crack-like hold on me. The chords start, and I sit there for the first few bars thinking to myself "Where is the melody going?" It always ends up being something way more creative and interesting than I imagined it would be. In short, there are lazy ways to write melodies, and then there's the James Mercer way.

All hail James.

Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape *

2006-11-29T00:24:00.000-05:00

I am someone who remembers useless stuff about music and artists, whether I like them or not. I know many of you are the same way. We read album liners to discover suprising collaborations or guest artists (how many thousands of songs has Linda Perry written?). We read interviews with artists and bands that we would never listen to. The first thing I do when I buy a CD is smell the liner. I love the smell of new CDs.

I know a fair bit about Gwen Stefani. My wife was into No Doubt, and so became a Gwen Stefani fan. I have smelled her CDs. I have marvelled at the number of songwriters and producers she works with. I am not ashamed to tell you I have even enjoyed many of her songs. Basically, I'm an anti-hipster. I like music that sounds good to me, usually regardless of who sings it. (Did you buy Adrenalize by Def Leppard? I did.) Mind you, I avoid mainstream radio and will never intentionally listen to old school country or death metal. I'm not being a snob though, I just don't like it.

If I remember correctly, PF wasn't big on Gwen Stefani's last album. I think (I should check but it's late and I want to go to bed) it got something around a 5.0. I didn't understand that rating; it wasn't outstanding, but I really thought some of the shit on it was seriously bananas. So because she is so mainstream now, I'm going to predict a 4.3 for this new one. Actual rating: 6.5. Point differential: 2.2.

Stephen calls it

2006-11-28T10:19:00.000-05:00

Nice job Stephen! He predicted exactly the rating for the new Tom Waits release. And he did it in my comments section, which means I played a role of some kind. Thank you, thank you very much.

I'm finding it tough these days to find albums worth predicting. There were so many albums put out in the fall, it was like shooting cats in a barrel. These days it takes a bit more research, which I'm not a huge fan of. But just to remind you, I already threw out there a super-high rating for the new Shins album when it comes out Jan. 23. Something like 9.7. It's in my posts somewhere, I'll check it out again.

Tom Waits - Orphans *

2006-11-18T08:59:00.000-05:00

I don't know anyone who actually listens to Tom Waits on a regular basis, but his albums are certainly legendary and revered by all. He is a talented songwriter and lyricist for sure, and I dig the mystique and mood of his art, but he doesn't do a whole lot for me once the cd is spinning.

PF loves him. Really, really loves him. Basically jizzed all over his past few releases. That is not a criticism; the albums are probably good enough that they deserved a good jizzing on. I'm going to predict a combined rating of 8.8 for the new 3-cd set. Actual rating: 8.4. Point differential: 0.4.

It's been too long!

2006-11-05T21:56:00.000-05:00

No, seriously, it really has been too long. I have been on holidays, busy with the family, seeing The Hold Steady, trying to write music and lyrics, and not really keeping up to speed on new releases and also not feeling the urge to blog. But I'm back, hoping some of you are still feeling the urge to read!

Anyway like I said I have no idea what is coming out and didn't bother to check, but I did hear that Chinese Democracy is coming out sometime in the next few weeks. This is monumental for music fans. Not necessarily just for fans of that type of music (Are there any headbangers left? I haven't seen one in a long time. Maybe this album will start a headbanger revival. That would be neat. I predict a 74% probability of that happening.), but fans of music trivia, music lore, music myth and legend, etc.

I'm not really into G n' R and haven't been for a long time, but this album has been so long in the making and so hotly anticipated that I just might pick it up. Of course, if you ask me why I did something so foolish, I will tell you it's because Tommy "Mr. Rock and Roll" Stinson is in the band. Tommy rocks. Sometimes I swear he invented rock and roll. In fact, prepare to be blown away: I like Friday Night is Killing Me more than all post-Tim Replacements releases. And The Replacements are my favourite band of all-time!

Forgive my rambling in this beauty of a post. The point is, I'll predict an 8.8 for Chinese Democracy, assuming it is reviewed, which, if it actually is about to be released, is sure to happen. No music site worth it's weight in shorn mullet hair would dare ignore this album. Actual rating: pending. Point differential: TBD.

And if I could add one more thing: I'm on the nighttrain!

Oops!

2006-10-19T10:46:00.000-04:00

I messed up nicely on the new BDB album! It's so hard to tell with albums like this. I figured it would get a mid-range rating that said little and took no real position on the album. It seems I was wrong!

Badly Drawn Boy - Born in the UK *

2006-10-17T17:13:00.000-04:00

It's been a few days. I'm still incredibly busy, but the end is in sight. In the meantime I thought I'd throw together a quick post so any daily readers don't think I have given up!

I only have BDB's first album. I like it ok, but don't really see what the fuss was about. Has this been reviewed by PF yet? I couldn't find it on the site, but didn't really look very hard either. In case it hasn't, I'll predict a 6.6 for this one. Actual rating: 2.8. Point differential: 3.8.

Bob Pollard

2006-10-12T10:35:00.000-04:00

I don't get the rating for this one. PF seemed to like the album, saying Bob was finding some consistency, but gave it a lowly 6.4. That means I was off by 1.0. Argh!

A purchase worth noting

2006-10-11T22:59:00.000-04:00

Still not a lot of time to post. I'll get back into it when work slows down a bit.

Meanwhile, there is always time for buying cds. Tonight I bought the new Hold Steady album, and found a modern Canadian classic - Now and Again by The Grapes of Wrath - for $4.99. That rivals finding two copies of Stephen Duffy's Music in Colors in the $0.99 bin a few months ago.

In my opinion, Now and Again is one of the best Canadian albums ever released. It is pure quality from start to finish. I haven't listened to it for at least 15 years, ever since wearing out my cassette copy. Treehouse was great too, although the songs were a bit more pop and less rock. But the band was never as good as on this album.

Robert Pollard - Normal Happiness *

2006-10-09T23:30:00.000-04:00

I've been listening to a track from this ever since Heather posted it a short while ago. It's astoundingly catchy and incredibly simple; each time I listen to it I wonder why I can't write songs like it. And Bob shits them out 10 at a time.

PF was generally pleased with his last album. I'm predicting more of the same, say 7.4. Actual rating: 6.4. Point differential: 1.0.

Killers

2006-10-06T13:04:00.000-04:00

Crazy week for me, not a lot of time to post. As you can see I was 1.5 off on the new Killers album. Not too bad I guess.

That's more like it

2006-10-04T15:54:00.000-04:00

After my horrible Sean Lennon prediction the other day (I was off by 4.3; I seriously underestimated Sean's ability), it's nice to see I haven't lost my talent completely. As you can see, I was only off by 0.3 on the new Beck album. This pleases me, and means the Top 10 needs an update!

Beck - The Information *

2006-10-03T16:46:00.000-04:00

Beck, I am definitely not ignoring you! I've just been busy with work so haven't had time to do a lot of predicting lately. So considering I missed out on predicting the new album from The Decemberists, I figured I would tear myself away from the grind for a few minutes and give your new album the attention it deserves.

I downloaded a few tracks off this new album. They were okay, but didn't excite me the way the first 5 or 6 tracks on Guero did. That was a solid start to an album. Anyway, I'll predict a 7.2 for this one. Actual rating: 6.9. Point differential: 0.3.

The Killers - Sam's Town *

2006-10-02T16:27:00.000-04:00

The Killers is quite possibly the anti-Pitchfork, representing everything that PF works so hard to oppose about rock and roll. The rock star pretentiousness; the blatant ripping-off of the classics. But damn that first album was catchy!

I have heard two of the songs from Sam's Town. I wasn't terribly impressed with either one.

Still, I can't decide if PF will like this album just to be able to say I told you so, or hate it because that's the indie thing to do. What do you think? I predict a 7.6. Actual rating: 5.9. Point differential: 1.5.

Old prediction

2006-10-02T08:28:00.000-04:00

A prediction from July (Silversun Pickups - Carnavas) was reviewed today too. Nothing exciting there, I was too high by 1.7. It's dated July 25 if you're interested.

Hold Steady

2006-10-02T08:19:00.000-04:00

The commenters were right: PF has a boner for this album. I predicted 8.4, which would normally pass for a high rating, but I was still a whole point too low. So not great on my part, but certainly great news for anyone who plans to get this album.

Notes on The Lemonheads

2006-09-28T08:54:00.000-04:00

Just like Milo said: pretty good, pretty good. My prediction of the new Lemonheads album was generally successful. I was 0.4 off, and correct in assuming PF wouldn't be overly enthusiastic about it.

I haven't bought the album yet, but I listened to a song from it (Become the Enemy) on my way to work today. My immediate impression was "How odd, Evan Dando singning an All song at half-speed." Sure enough it is one of the songs written by Bill Stevenson.

Sparklehorse review below

2006-09-27T12:39:00.000-04:00

I blew this one! I'm disappointed in myself anytime I'm off by more than 1.5.

The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America *

2006-09-27T00:30:00.000-04:00

I'm seeing these guys in a few weeks. I'm pumped! Small venue. Lots of aging indie rockers. Some beers here and there. I'm going to predict an 8.4 for this album. Actual rating: 9.4. Point differential: 1.0.

Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire *

2006-09-27T00:13:00.000-04:00

Who buys Sean Lennon albums? Even hardcore Beatles fans must realize that the only similarity between Sean and John is that their names rhyme. Has he done anything of note since he remade Give Peace a Chance? I honestly can't think of anyone who would find this album interesting. I must admit though, I did buy Valotte by Julian Lennon way back when it came out. If this gets rated it will be low; I predict a 2.4. Actual rating: 6.7. Point differential: 4.3.

Sparklehorse - Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain *

2006-09-27T00:08:00.000-04:00

I've only every heard one Sparklehorse song, and I don't even remember what it was called. That said, I am confident that a 6.7 rating for this album is on the way. Actual rating: 8.3. Point differential: 1.6.

The Lemonheads - S/T *

2006-09-22T10:55:00.000-04:00

Certainly lots of hype about this one. Like everyone else I downloaded the No Backbone cover a few weeks ago and have listened to it daily ever since. Gotta say the thing I enjoy most about it is J Mascis’ guitar, not that the whole song isn’t great. Also, it was produced by the world’s fastest drummer and the man who inspired me to perform many outstanding air-drum solos – Bill Stevenson. And Stevenson and Karl Alvarez are part of the band. AND Stevenson helped write some of the songs. Are you getting my point? Basically this is a must have in the Tower household.

I’m not sure PF will love it the same way. I’ll predict a 7.2. Actual rating: 6.8. Point differential: 0.4.

Emily Haines & The Big Sleep

2006-09-19T12:53:00.000-04:00

These two were reviewed today; I was 0.9 and 1.5 off respectively. The Big Sleep prediction was so long ago I forgot about it.

Did you read The Big Sleep review? It is notably non-cerebral and hence completely unlike any PF review I can remember from recent days.

Just in time

2006-09-18T10:26:00.000-04:00

Some last minute predicting last night and I was off by 0.4 on the new Bonnie "Prince" Billy album.

Think I'll expand the Top 5 to a Top 10.

Kasabian - Empire

2006-09-17T23:05:00.000-04:00

I tried to find the PF review of the band's album from last year, but got a message saying the page doesn't exist. Does PF remove certain reviews after a specific amount of time? Anyway, it got a 5.2. I can agree with that. I didn't think it was anything special. All signs say this new one is different, and not in a good way. 3.7. Actual rating: pending. Point differential: TBD.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy - The Letting Go *

2006-09-17T22:28:00.000-04:00

Good golly I just realized I better get cookin! I have a few predictions in the can, but nothing done for this week yet.

First up is this new Bonnie "Prince" Billy album, described using these words, among others, by someone at amazon.com:

"...a series of meditations and tone poems on love and mortality, with the autumnal strains of a chamber quartet..."

Love and mortality? Autumnal strains? I like that. Sounds interesting. But wait a second. Chamber quartet? Meditations? Tone poems? What the fuck is a tone poem? I bet PF knows. 7.8. Actual rating: 8.2. Point differential: 0.4.

I am tired of second guessing

2006-09-15T10:15:00.000-04:00

I should have gone higher with the R.E.M. prediction. 0.2 is still respectable. Although technically, I predicted the album wouldn't get lower than 9.5!

Double review day

2006-09-12T12:08:00.000-04:00

Two predicted new releases were reviewed by PF today: The Rapture and The Mars Volta. The Rapture prediction was closest at 0.5 off, but I'm prouder of The Mars Volta prediction. Even though I was off by 1.4 on its new album, I was right in predicting its level of wankerism would result in its trashing.

We have entered a fall/winter of many new releases, a good number of which I'm very excited about. So That's Mr. Tower will be a busy place during the next few weeks. And let me be the first to predict the new album from The Shins will get at least 9.7!

Damn...

2006-09-11T23:12:00.000-04:00

I swear to you now faithful readers: I did not see the YLT review today when I checked PF earlier. Like I mentioned a few weeks ago, when I'm at work I can only access the site in something that closely resembles a text-only version; no images, no album covers, etc. So when I scrolled down and saw the Black Keys review, I figured that it was the marquee review for the day. Had I scrolled up a bit, I would have seen the YLT album was reviewed ahead of it. So anyway, while my exact prediction of the new YLT album -- my first exact prediction btw -- would normally be reason to celebrate, it is tainted. And I guess in order to maintain my credibility as the world's No. 1 human online album rating predictor, I won't count it as a legitimate exact prediction and will keep waiting for that euphoric day when there can be no doubts raised about my special ability.

R.E.M. - And I Feel Fine: Best of the IRS Years 1982 - 1987 *

2006-09-11T22:25:00.000-04:00

In 1987 I stopped listening to the radio and started listening to two bands: the Violent Femmes and R.E.M. They defined my teen years and when I think back about the real joys of discovering new music, those are the bands and days I usually think about.

R.E.M. helped open my eyes to a whole genre of music and is one of the reasons my musical taste ended up where it is today (good or bad). So I am a bit biased when I say there is simply no way this album could get lower than 9.5. The first disc includes, in my mind, many of the best songs released in the 1980s. The only way it could be better is if it included all of Reckoning, and Disturbance at the Heron House hadn't been relegated to the second disc. If you have young, impressionable kids and you care about their musical tastes, buy this album, play it regularly, and convince them that R.E.M. broke up around 1992. Actual rating: 9.7. Point differential: 0.2.

They're numbering the monkeys. The monkeys and the monkeys.

Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass *

2006-09-11T21:36:00.000-04:00

Officially one of the world's dumbest album titles.

Anyway, as an indie rocker you can't not like YLT. It's totally against the rules, and people will accuse you of attempting to be too hip if you suggest you don't like it. I'll be honest: I didn't get into the band until a friend loaned me ICHTHBAO. I liked it, of course. Then said friend and I saw the band at a tiny venue here in town. I liked it even more. Nothing like a good concert to really make you appreciate a band.

I'm going to play it safe with this one and predict an 8.3. Actual rating: 8.3. Point differential: 0.0 (see above).

Black keys blues

2006-09-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

PF went and gave me the Black Keys-album-rating-predicting blues. My baby done left me, my dog did done died, and I woke up and seen the Fork gone and gimme nuthin but troubles.

Seems the reviewer had similar feelings about the band though. I guess things are lookin up. Still, a difference of 1.8 is bad. Oh so bad. Oh so very very bad, feels like my baby just went and traded my ol' Cadillac for a Hyundai.

The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love *

2006-09-07T16:27:00.000-04:00

This album won't get the amazingly high 9.0 that the band's first album received from PF, but I think it will still be up there, say 8.3. Actual rating: 7.8. Point differential: 0.5.