The Greatest Chanukkah…Hanukkah…Chanukah??? Ablum Made

It’s finally Hanukkah!!! Get your dreidels*, menorahs* and macaroons* ready!!! I bet you are all excited to get new pairs of socks and pens. To help celebrate the festival lights I would like to bring to everyone’s attention the greatest collection of Hanukkah songs that you probably never heard (and no I do not mean Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah song). Instead, I am referring to the Hanukkah super-group known as the LeeVees. The group consists of Adam Gardner of Guster, Dave Schneider of the Zambonis, Michael Azerrad, Shawn Fogel and Shank Bone Mystic. This kapeyle* of Jewish musicians got together for the fact that they are not a lot of good Hanukkah songs out there.
I discovered the LeeVees almost by accident. In fact, I almost never got to experience their meshuga* music. In December 2006, I wanted to see comedian Michael Showalter (of Stella fame) at Southpaw in Brooklyn for “Jewltide,” that I found out about that day. Long story short, Michael Showalter was not that good on stage and he even called me derogatory three letter word used against the gay and lesbian community that begins with the letter “F” (I’ll leave it up for you to figure out what word it was). However, the night was not lost as the LeeVees came on afterwords. And let me tell you, I was taken aback! I was so taken aback, that if I had a kippah*, it would have fallen off.  I was so impressed that I even bought the album that night and had the band sign it!

That album, “Hanukkah Rocks!” was released in 2005 by JDub records (an all Jewish record company), so it is the five year anniversary of its released.  The album itself is 45 minutes of hilarity that really hit home for those of the Jewish faith. Some of these songs are just classics, that every Jew and goy* should listen to. Tracks such as Latke* Clan (“Your uncle’s here, he flew in from out of town, it’s nice to have him around, even though he’ s weird it’s Hanukkah”),  Apple Sauce Vs. Sour Cream asking the eternal question of what to put on your latke, Goyim Friends comparing great gifts goyims get on Christmas compared to the stereotypical dull Hanukkah gifts (but aso how goyims are jealous all of the Jewish holiday ["we get a day off...and another day off"]), How Do You Spell Chanukkah? and my personal favorites Gelt* Melts (“if a goy can eat a chocolate bunny, why can’t we eat chocolate money?”) and At the Timeshare (“down in Boca*, or was it Boyton or maybe Daytona…..or Tallahasse [BUT THERE'S NO JEWS THERE!]).  However, the one major flaw of the album is the :48 second track called “Silence.” Seriously guys, was that really necessary?

Considering it’s been five years since the release, it’s time for the band to come out with some new material. The Zambonis and Guster aren’t on worldwide tours that I’m aware. So get together and write some more tunes. As for the other guys, I don’t know what bands they are in, but I’m sure they can make time for to produce some more magic; I recently read that Shawn Fogel is playing in another JDub band, the Macaroons (JDub’s first kids band). Come on guys, you are the Chosen Band, we need you! And go back on tour! After I saw the LeeVees in 2006, I was lucky enough to see them again in 2007.  I wasn’t able to see them last year but they are not even on tour this year! In hopes of getting the band’s attendtion I am posting the Amazon.com and iTunes links to buy the albums. I figured if the loyal Matt is Blogging readers bought the album, the band will see that the folks out there still want to hear their music.

http://www.amazon.com/Hanukkah-Rocks-Leevees/dp/B000BH4YJA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1260558942&sr=8-1

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-leevees/id79565430

Listen to the LeeVees on LaLa

http://www.lala.com/#artist/The_LeeVees

Some Video of the LeeVees I recorded at their 2007 concert at the Highline Ballroom (Adam Gardner was not at this show due to the birth of his child)

Gelt Melts

Goyim Friends

Blueberry Bagel

The KKK Took My Baby Away

Latke Clan

Goyim Index (courtesy of Dictionary.com):

Dreidels: a four-sided top bearing the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, he, and shin, one on each side, used chiefly in a children’s game traditionally played on the Jewish festival of Hanukkah

Menorah: a nine-branched candelabrum used in celebration of Hanukkah

Macaroons: a drop cookie made of egg whites, sugar, usually almond paste or coconut, and sometimes a little flour

Kapeyle: Yiddish for a musical group

Meshuga: crazy

Kippa: or yarmulke (also called a skullcap or kappel) is a thin, slightly-rounded skullcap traditionally worn at all times by  observant Jewish men. Its use is associated with demonstrating respect and reverence for God

Goy: a non-Jewish person; gentile

Latke: a grated potato pancake

Gelt: chocolate shaped as a coin

Boca: short for Boca Raton (or mouse mouth). A city in southern Florida where older Jewish men and woman may move to when they retire

DO THE RIGHT THING TICKETMASTER!!!

I’m sick of Ticketmaster. As I have noted in a previous post, they are pure evil, but we have no choice but to use them as they are the only source to buy tickets at face value. The last straw came on Monday morning at 9am as I went into work early to make sure I was at my computer to buy Bruce Springsteen tickets. As many know, Bruce is my favorite musician, so I was very much looking forward to buying tickets to his concert at Nassau Coliseum after his kick-ass halftime show and his great album just being released.

So, at 9am I went to buy tickets and waited in the “internet line” for about 15-20 minutes. When my turn finally came around I received ths message:

	Our ticketing system is currently unavailable due to routine maintenance. Please check back at a later time.
	(0×200111)

Sucks, right? I tried buying tickets again even though I realized that the show was probably sold out at that point. After waiting in line for the second time, I again received the same message. I emailed Ticketmaster about my problem but have not heard back yet. I noticed today that I am not the only person who had this problem (http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/02/03/ticketmaster-admits-springsteen-sale-wasnt-our-finest-hour/) and (http://www.newsday.com/iphone/ny-nyspring0204,0,5620915.story). I am calling for Ticketmaster, the personification of greed to DO THE RIGHT THING FOR IT’S CUSTOMERS! How dare they try to advertise their “used to be illegal” TicketsNow website and scalp tickets for way over face value on their website.  If those are Ticketmaster’s tickets (which I am not sure they are), they should let people like us, who were online at 9am be able to buy at face value. SHAME ON YOU TICKETMASTER. According to Rolling Stone, there are 697 tickets available on TicketsNow, enough to satisfy a lot of angry customers. The article on Newsday noted that Ticketmaster claims that only a few people experienced this problem. Well, if only a few people had this problem, then it will not be a burden to your company to fix your mistake and let us buy the tickets we earned by logging on at 9am! I doubt that this will be rectified or that Ticketmaster will even respond to my email (I am still waiting). Ticketmaster has been nothing but a disappointment. But what else should I expect, they cannot be held accountable for their actions. However, US Rep Bill Pascrell is calling for a federal probe on a conflict of interest between TicketsNow and Ticketmaser. I have no clue what could come of that but no matter what, it looks like I am stuck here without Bruce Springsteen tickets and will have to resort to trying to buy them for way over face value. Unless Ticketmaster DOES THE RIGHT THING FOR ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS INSTEAD OF THINKING WITH THEIR WALLET. If you are a loyal reader to Mattisblogging I urge you to email Ticketmaster about this matter on their website. Annoy @ http://ticketmasterus.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ticketmasterus.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php

Flight of the Conchords….ARE OFFICIALLY BACK!

I was a little worried about it at first. The first episode of the new season was kind of lame. Plus, I read somewhere (last year) that the guys ran out of songs and were having a hard time creating new ones for the new season. It was also somewhat ominous to see that “Scrubs” took two characters from the Flight of the Conchords (the woman-player and the racist grocery stand owner), although they were not reoccurring characters. But this past week’s episode, the second of the new season, was great! Jermaine and Brett becoming male prostitutes to buy their guitars back…that they sold in order to pay the bills…all because they were short $2.75…the EXACT amount of money Brett used to buy a second cup for the apartment! That is CLASSIC Conchords! I really had a LOL experience watching the episode. But the best part about the episode were the two new songs, which is the real reason I wrote this post: to share those songs with you. The brilliant part is these songs is that they could actually be top 40 hit songs…where has mainstream music gone?? “Sugarlumps” is like the male version of “My Humps”…and Dave’s rap at the end is hilarious. As for, “You Don’t Have to Be a Prostitute,” is that Brett or UB40?!?!? That song should be blasting through college dorms while kids are getting high as we speak (isn’t that right Ras Trent aka: Andy Samberg?!?) Anyway here are the videos…can’t wait til next episode!

Sugar Lumps

You Don’t Have to Be a Prostitute

Matt’s End of Year Music Review…2009

Top Ten Albums of the Year:

There were many more full albums that I was unable to sample that I  still need to hear (i.e., MGMT, Black Kids, Oasis, Kings of Leon). But of the ones that I listened to, here are my top 10 favorite.

1. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

These Columbia University graduates stole my heart (and my ears) with the end-to-end best overall album.  They even made a nice impression on my father who loves the song M79.

• Vampire Weekend – M79

2. TV on the Radio – Dear Science,

Dear TV on the Radio, your awesome. Thank you for following up Return to Cookie Mountain with this gem (see Septembter 24th post).

• TV on the Radio – Golden Age

3. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive

Minneapolis’ favorite sons write about the trials and tribulations of the American adolescent like no other in the modern music scene.

• The Hold Steady – Constructive Summer

4. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords

Honestly, this album is more than just a hillarious comedy album. It was very well written and produced.  FOTC received a lo of air time on my iPod this year.  I’m very much looking forward to season two of the television program this year.

• Flight of the Conchords – Robots

5.  The Wombats - A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation

Of all the great British artist (e.g., Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Clash), I listened to this album the most while I was roaming the streets of London this summer. They are straight up a good time.

• The Wombats – Backfire at the Disco

6. The Walkmen – You and Me

I just discovered the Walkmen this year. I love their classic, time-honored sound…and the fact they record with antique instruments and equipment. It really compliments their style. Hey…it’s going to be a good year.

• The Walkmen – In the New Year

7. Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now, Youngster…

Energy! Excitement! Makes mewant to burn calories! All things I think of when I hear Los Campesinos!, who have so much energy, they decided to release two albums this year. Unfortunately, I have only heard the first album…but I love it! See how excited the band gets me…I’m overusing my exclamation points (like that Seinfeld episode).

• Los Campesinos! – You! Me! Dancing!

8. No Age - Nouns

Rocked my world in very short intervals.

• No Age – Teen Creep

9. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes

Great debut by the Fleet Foxes. This is what good music sounds like if you’re stranded in the middle of a forest with folk artists.

• Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal

10. R.E.M. – Accelerate

I loved this album, R.E.M. did a superb job mixing in the sounds of the old with the sounds of the new. “Living Well is the the Best Revenge” was my second favorite opening track this year (just lost to the Hold Steady’s “Constructive Summer). Too bad it monsooned during their concert at Jones Beach…

• R.E.M. – Man Sized Wreath

Honorable Mentions: Brett Dennen (Hope for the Hopeless), Cut Copy (In Ghost Colors), Coldplay (Viva La Vida), Connor Oberst (Connor Oberst)

Top Shows:

(1) Bruce Springsteen @ Giants Stadium

Best Bruce concert I ever went to! The E-Street band rocked for over three hours tha tnight (they  lasted til 1am). Bruce is five days older than my dad and I’ve never seen a human being have so much energy. He didn’t stop to take a breather…not even once. When everyone thought the show was over after “American Land” they play “Jersey Girl!” But that wasn’t all…Bruce then proclaimed “we have one more fairy tale from New Jersey for you” and played “Rosalita!!!”

(2) Paul Simon and Friends @ the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Thank goodness for your friends, Paul. And no, I’m not talking about Art Garfunkel. This was a great show in a beautiful theatre. We heard all of Paul’s classics from the help of the Roches, Olu Dara, Grizzly Bear, Amos Lee, Josh Grobin and Gillian Wrench (I’m sure I’m forgetting some people).

(3) The National @ Central Park

What better way to spend a birthday than with my fellow Matthew, Berninger, in the middle of Central Park. One of my highlights of 2008 was being able to meet Matt while out to dinner in Boerum Hill back in January, he was such a nice guy. I still appreciate your kindness, Matt!

(4) The Hold Steady @ Terminal 5

I’ve wanted to see the Hold Steady in concert for the longest time because of their reputation of being incredible live, and they did not disappoint (see November 12th post). Too bad I’ve haven’t been able to obtain a copy of this show yet.

(5) Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Cha’s @ the New Orleans Jazz Fest

There was something about seeing this family-band in the mud and pouring rain that was authentic New Orleans to a tee.

Let’s see what 2009 has to bring us. Happy Holidays and New Years everyone!

Review: The Hold Steady @ Terminal 5 – 11/7/08

“You guys are noisy tonight…sounds like you’re celebrating that we have a new president!” frontman Craig Finn proclaimed a few songs into the Hold Steady’s never-dull-for-a-moment set Friday night at Terminal 5.  Maybe the crowd was in an extra-happy mood because of Tuesday’s election, or maybe the beer was extra smooth at Terminal 5 that night because the audience was boisterous and full of bonhomie. It was beautiful reciprocity: the crowd was feeding off the Hold Steady’s energetic performance, and the Hold Steady was feeding off the crowd’s enthusiasm.

I have wanted to see the Hold Steady in concert for quite a while, they have a reputation of being an “awesome bar band.” They did not disappoint from the moment they came on stage. They started off the set the best way I thought they could with “Constructive Summer,” the opening track from this years release “Stay Positive” (one of my favorite albums of the year). Craig Finn asked the crowd to “raise a toast to St. Joe Strummer,” as the band embodied the spirit of Clash’s electricity.

Surprisingly to me, the Hold Steady gave us a very-balanced show. I was expecting the band to rely mostly on their last two albums, but they dove deep into their catalog. I would say the band played an even amount of songs from all albums…a tribute to their long-time diehards. What did not surprise me about the performance was Craig Finn’s lyrical talent. There are few in his class who can tell the story of the adventures, struggles, agonies and triumphs of American adolescence like he can in today’s music scene.

What makes the band enjoyable is their antics. They do not take themselves seriously on stage, they just have fun. They are self-deprecating and are not afraid to demonstrate that although they have “never been with your hoodrat friend,” they are just a bunch of middle-aged white men from Minnesota. The band looks like they are made up of an insurance salesman, the IT man at work, a surfer, a Russian silent film star and a Gap model. Both Craig Finn, and Keyboardist/Accordion Player/Harmonica Player, Franz Nicolay, spent plenty of time on stage stumbling through the jitterbug and doing the kriss-kross “jump” dance. Franz Nicolay’s appearance on stage is eye catching enough…he looks like he is a mix between Charlie Chaplin, Luigi From the Mario Brothers, Soda Popinski from Mike Tyson’s Punchout and Justin Timberlake. Meanwhile Craig Finn half-sings and half-rambles while running his hands through his hands through his hair with the excitement of a 4-year-old reciting the alphabet for the first time. It was amusing to watch him pace back and forth on stage while the crowd shuffled their feet backand forth to follow him.

I was slightly disappointed that the band did not play 2006’s standout “Stuck Between Stations” during the encore, but they had a few tricks up their sleeve. When the Drive-By-Truckers joined the band on stage, the two groups played a great version of the Blue Oyster Cult’s “Burnin’ For You.” For personal reasons, I cannot take Blue Oyster Cult seriously (no, it has nothing to do with SNL sketch). I found the cover on Friday night to be both comical and extremely enjoyable. They also covered the Minutemen’s “History Lesson Part II,” and AC/DC’s “Ride On.”

To take the title from their first album, the Hold Steady killed me on Friday night. The hour an a half set flew by…but then again, time flies when the Hold Steady is on stage.

Setlist (from rollingstone.com)

“Constructive Summer”
“You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came to the Dance With)”
“Multitude of Casualties”
“Chips Ahoy!”
“Sequestered in Memphis”
“One for the Cutters”
“Cheyenne Sunrise”
“Ask Her for Adderall”
“Magazines”
“Arms & Hearts”
“Stevie Nix”
“Massive Nights”
“Party Pit”
“Lord, I’m Discouraged”
“Hornets! Hornets!”
“Your Little Hoodrat Friend”
“Most People Are DJs”
“Slapped Actress”
“How a Resurrection Really Feels”

Encore:
“First Night”
“Stay Positive”
“History Lesson Part II”
“Ride On”
“Burnin’ For You”
“Killer Parties”

The Hold Steady

Sequestered In Memphis:

Massive Nights:

Burnin’ For You – Blue Oyster Cult cover with Drive By Truckers

Album Review: TV on the Radio “Dear Science,” & Review of The Killers’ “Human”

You can’t accuse Brooklyn-based TV on the Radio of trying to fit into a mold. This post-punk, art-rock, acapella-core, indie-experimental band explores diverse territory in their latest album Dear Science,. Compared to 2006’s Return to Cookie Mountain, this album portrays itself as being more rhythmic, pop-oriented and at times upbeat. This is even evident in the band’s outlook toward the future. There is a stark contrast from the attitudes of Return to Cookie Mountain and the present-release Dear Science,. In 2006, the band began the album with the eerie “I was a lover…before this war.” In 2008, the band seems more optimistic and hopeful. In the song “Golden Age,” lead singer Tunde Adebimpe predicts “there’s a golden age coming around.” In the military-style cadence of “Lover’s Day,” he sings that “of course, there are miracles.” At times the album appears to serve as a rallying tool for today’s youth. In the hip-hop sounding “Red Dress,” Adebimpe tells the government “FUCK YOUR WAR” and tells us to “shake our hips when the man cracks his whip.”

One of the most obvious things that one notices when listening to Dear Science, is that this album is definitely more pop-influenced and easy on the ears than the cacophonous sounds from Return to Cookie Mountain. Easily, the catchiest song is “Dancing Choose,” which makes wants to put on some dancing shoes (what a pun!). Another noticeable difference is the incorporation of horns (courtesy of the Afro-beat band Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra) and violins. It gives the band an Arcade Fire type sound at times.

Despite the differences, TV on the Radio has not deserted the sound that gained them popularity from Return to Cookie Mountain. Songs like the album’s opener “Halfway Home” (which begins with an almost Ramones-like or Beach Boys-like chant), “Crying” and “DLZ” (“This is beginning to feel like the dawn of a loser forever”) carry the David Bowie-sounding, somber overtones.

The final thing that distinguishes this album from their last, is the showcase of Tunde Adebimpe’s lyrical ability.  This man is as poetic and elegant as anyone out there, period. Nowhere else is this evident as in the album standout “Family Tree.” Which can be described as a love ballad…what??? I told you the band has branched out;

“Under my love
Wake up to your window
The day calls in billows
It’s echoing moonlight on to the blue nightmare of your heart
In cozy red rainbow
It’s shaking off halos
And the memory of our sacred so and so’s”

One disappointing aspect of the album for me was that no song showcased David Andrew Sitek’s intense and energetic guitar riffs like on “Wolf Like Me,” their standout song from 2006’s Return to Cookie Mountain. And although the band did not have a song as good as “Wolf Like Me” this time, they have released an overall great album.

Score = 94%

Listen to album tracks:

TV on the Radio – Golden Age

TV on the Radio – Dancing Choose

TV on the Radio – Family Tree

Track of the week: The Killers “Human”

I am officially excited! Judging from the Killers’ first single of their upcoming album Day and Age, it appears that the Killers may be returning the Killers old…as many fans were hoping for. The first single “Human” captures a sense of nostalgia for me. It is much more Hot Fuss than Sam’s Town. It’s the return of the synth-pop, Pet Shop Boys style the band became famous with and the exit of the Springsteen-inspired tunes about the American heartland. As big a Springsteen fan that I am…I must say that isn’t Brandon Flowers’ strength. On this track, Brandon abandons that slighty forced, out-of-place, wavering voice intonation that we heard on Sam’s Town and Saw Dust and sings with a more natural sounding style. The songwas produced by Stuart Price, the man behind the Jacques Lu Cont remixes and his prescence is heard throughout this track. Maybe now the Killers will embrace the title of the “Best British Band In America” and return to their true form. Now if only they ditch faux-westerner look and go back to the suits and mascara…

Listen (song will not be up for long):

The Killers – Human