MUSIC SCHOOL DROPOUT: Kelley Polar Shares His 5 Favorite Classical LPs
Posted on May 30, 2008
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[Photos by Jimmy Edgar]
Much has been made of Kelley Polar’s expulsion from Juilliard, which happened soon after his “Kelley Polar Quartet” swaddled such key Metro Area cuts as “Miura,” “Dance Reaction” and “Caught Up” in rich string arrangements. Since the producer/pianist/violist still has a soft spot for classical music, we asked him to share his favorite jams made by (long) dead men, as well as explain the whole Juilliard thing in detail …
I was drawn to classical music at a young age because my parents (specifically my mother) decided that my dear sister Blevin should play when she was about 3—when I was born. She also bought a puppy around this time. So my sister practiced the Suzuki method of violin playing and my first germinative months were spent with her playing “The Happy Farmer,” “Aunt Rhody” and “Perpetual Motion.”
So when I was around 3 I started playing as well.
LONG PLAYER OF THE DAY: Odd Nosdam, Pretty Swell Explode
Posted on May 29, 2008
Filed Under Long Player of the Day, Reviews | 1 Comment
[Photo by Liz Hodson]
Look, we’re never going to get over the disbandment of cLOUDDEAD—the murky & melancholic collective that helped launch the love-or-loathe careers of Yoni Wolf, Doseone and Anticon.’s finest beat conductor (outside of Alias, of course), Odd Nosdam. It’s telling that two of the three have already went on to widely-acclaimed bands, both of which released their finest records to date this year (Subtle’s ExitingARM, Why?’s Alopecia).
What’s unfortunate is just how overlooked Nosdam’s been over the past few years, as he quietly crafted a hypnotic and hazy compromise between Boards of Canada’s chilling, sepia-toned compositions and the in-the-red drone pieces of Boris and Sunn O))). While the latter may seem like a stretch at first, Nosdam did manage to distill his own version of distorted downtempo on last year’s Level Live Wires LP.
ONE NIGHT IN NY: Mates of State, Bonedust, Les Savy Fav, KTL, James Murphy
Posted on May 28, 2008
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BONEDUST: The cell phone guy is seconds from being electrocuted
Text/Photos by Andrew Parks
self-titled decided to do the unthinkable last Wednesday: hit shows throughout the city from 7 to midnight, only to end up at one of the warm-up parties for Santos’ Party House. Four venues and five acts were witnessed along the way, along with intermittent rain, two rounds of indie rock trivia, a door bitch that wasn’t too bitchy, and one of the city’s finest cocktail bars. Here’s what happened …
BUY IT, BURN IT, SKIP IT: Al Green, Ellen Allien, Midnight Juggernauts
Posted on May 26, 2008
Filed Under Buy It, Burn It, Skip It, Coffee Talk, Reviews, Story Of The Week | 1 Comment
ELLEN ALLIEN: The most minimal Magic Eye portrait ever
By Aaron Richter
As we all know by now, new releases hit record-store shelves and digital-download services each Tuesday. So every week self-titled presents a new release you’d be stupid not to own (Buy It), one worth checking out if you’re the curious type (Burn It) and something you might have heard about but probably should avoid (Skip It). Simple, ain’t it?
ST001: Inside self-titled’s First Digital Issue
Posted on May 25, 2008
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[Portrait of Eleanor Friedberger by Gregory Holm]
It’s official: self-titled has finished and ‘printed’ our first digital issue. A mini version of it can be found near the top of our page, but here’s a more detailed rundown of what you’ll be able to find inside:
- A probing Q&A about drugs, near-death experiences and Harmony Korine with Spiritualized’s Jason Spaceman.
- An exclusive Mad Libs session with No Age.
- Beard tips from Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav and how not to sound like an American in Paris with The Teenagers, all on one page.
- Booka Shade break down their decision to make a total living room LP.
- How to survive three brunch courses with head Swan/Angel of Light, Michael Gira.
- A complete guide to Berlin, by Ellen Allien.
- Magik Markers pull out their favorite OOP albums.
- Jens Lekman explains just what the hell is going on in that head of his.
- A year in the hype machine with Yeasayer.
- A Winehouse-free tour of Daptone Records‘ Brooklyn homebase.
- “Tipping Point” profiles of Mahjongg, Cool Kids and Holy Fuck.
- A look at the bleeding edge album art of Boris‘ drummer.
- Eleanor Friedberger shares her personal clothing collection in an exclusive photo shoot.
- The most revealing Black Dice profile you’ll ever read, not to mention extensive features on Black Mountain and our cover stars The Black Lips.
- James Pants, Quiet Village, Torche and nine other “From the Stacks” selections.
- A Burial-inspired art print by Kim Hiorthøy.
Now, for some reading tips …
AU CONTRAIRE: Jamie Lidell, “Jim” (Warp)
Posted on May 22, 2008
Filed Under Au Contraire, Reviews | 1 Comment
Because self-titled’s staff doesn’t always agree about what’s amazing or godawful
What we said then:
“The Jamie Lidell we know and love is fun. This is not fun. This is so white-bread normal.”
1MM: Les Savy Fav @ Highline Ballroom, 5.21.08
Posted on May 22, 2008
Filed Under 1MM, Media | 3 Comments
Text/Photos by Andrew Parks
A review of this Les Savy Fav performance/NY Mag promotion wouldn’t do it justice, especially since the sound was cranked to the point of utter incoherence, much like it had been for Ted Leo’s set at a SPIN party last winter. (Maybe comedy and acoustic Michael Gira shows are the only things Highline can handle.)
That said, such raucous Let’s Be Friends selections as “Patty Lee” and “The Equestrian” went over VERY WELL with a severely inebriated crowd of Indie Rock Trivia players. Not that the music matters when Tim Harrington is onstage (yes, these are all from the same show; Tim is quite the fan of costume changes) …
LISTEN: Gang Gang Dance, EXCLUSIVE Live Set @ Southpaw, 4.30.08
Posted on May 21, 2008
Filed Under Media, Test Pressing | 1 Comment
See that curious new cut over in our IMEEM player? It’s not some ordinary single or mid-fi MP3; it’s a full, high-quality live set from Gang Gang Dance’s Southpaw show in late April. Straight from the band, too.
In other GGD news, be sure to keep an eye out for two things in the coming months: (1) the band’s appearance on SummerStage’s greatest bill ever and (2) details on an actual full-length album after all that EP/DVD business.
Win Subtle/Black Moth Super Rainbow Tickets!
Posted on May 20, 2008
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BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW: Undisputed finger puppet champions
You know how radio stations try to snag new listeners by offering free shit? Well, we’re going to start buying (or is it giving away?) your love on a regular basis, beginning with some Black Moth Super Rainbow/Subtle tickets for this Friday at New York’s Knitting Factory. To win, be our ninth caller, err, E-mailer at aparks@self-titledmag.com .
1MM: Los Campesinos! @ Bowery Ballroom, 5.21.08
Posted on May 20, 2008
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Los Campesinos!’ head howler/glockenspiel tamer, Gareth
Photos by Teresa Olson
Precious is one way of putting it. Hey, it’s either that or goddamn adorable, and we’re not about to use such a warm & fuzzy phrase in the presence of self-titled readers.
That’s right: Los Campesinos! are exactly what you’d expect after hearing the highly-caffeinated indie pop tunes of Hold On Now, Youngster… Which is to say they twist and shout like a gang of post-pubescent teenagers, especially the group’s de facto frontman Gareth. Confirming the thoughts of many critics, the singer/keyboardist/glockenspiel player comes across like a smaller, younger version of Eddie Argos, Art Brut’s resident comedian/mic slayer. The only problem being just how overpowering he can be in comparison to Aleksandra—the sweet to Gareth’s sour in the Campesinos! camp, right down to her candied synth melodies.
At least we could hear the swooping violin arrangements of Harriet, a rarity in a room as big as the Bowery. Almost as rare as feeling the need to actually look alive out there, which these Cardiff kids demanded throughout an hour-long set.
More photos after the jump …
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