Thursday, January 29, 2009

An announcement.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Dexter Romweber photos!

On New Year's Eve, we were honored to have the Dex Romweber Duo here at Ye Olde Decatur CD. Dexter Romweber, he of Flat Duo Jets fame, was in town with his sister, Sara, and they played Twain's later in the evening. It was a pretty sweet way to get prepared for 2009 if we say so ourselves. Unfortunately, shortly after that, 2009 happened and we got busy and forgot about the photos Warren took during the evening. Sorry, Dex and Sara! Better late than never, right? Have a look and stop by on Feb. 10 to get the band's new album, Ruins of Berlin.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

My Lunch with Philip


You saw his opera Akhnaten at Emory. You purchased the box set pictured above. Now, you're probably wondering what Philip Glass has been up to lately. Well, like so many other world famous celebrities before him, on Monday, Philip Glass had lunch with Decatur CD's very own Young Eliot.

So, why, you ask did I deign to meet with someone who only ranks ninth on the list of living geniuses? Well, my friends at Emory thought it would be nice for Philip to have dinner with some students during his stay at Emory. As one of his many interests is Buddhism, they asked me, as the world's leading expert on that religion, to dine with him. I got tired of their begging and relented. Besides, they offered free cookies and ginger ale.

All jokes aside, I'm not really a huge fan of classical music. I certainly appreciate the work of Glass and others, but it's just not my thing at the moment. Nonetheless, I could not have been more impressed with Mr. Glass when I had lunch with him along with a handful of other Emory students from his areas of interest.

Warren will be surprised to know that I was a few minutes late for the lunch. When I sat down right next to him, Glass asked my name and my interest. I told him and he replied, "I'm Philip. I'm a composer." He proceeded to turn even the most mundane questions into grounds for a discourse on topics ranging from civil protest to the relationship between the audience and music.

In his description of the relation between audience and music, it became clear why he has such a fondness for Buddhism, as he clearly has a strong interest in interdependence. What's more, he demonstrated an incredible knowledge about every topic on which he spoke, referencing obscure points about the spread of Buddhism; his knowledge was a stark contrast to most celebrities who romanticize Buddhism into meaninglessness.

He did make one small mistake about the definition of a Sanskrit term, ahimsa, but my inner Buddhist geek was able to resist the urge to correct him. That one small misstep did nothing to offset how impressive he was in both his intelligence and his ability to relate to 21-year-old kids.

You know, one of these days I might even have to set aside all my lo-fi indie noise synth-pop post-skronk jangle punk and listen to one of his records.

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Monday, January 26, 2009

New. Release. Tuesday.

Big day tomorrow, y'all. New Hoobastank is finally out! We kid because we love ol' Hooba and the gang, but you know what? If you're looking for that particular CD, fret not, because we will totally have it in stock. But personally, we're just a little more psyched up about the new Springsteen, Olson/Louris, Franz Ferdinand and so on. Tasty jazz reissues as well. Have a look at the list below and let us know what you're looking for this week:

Bruce Springsteen
Mark Olson/Gary Louris
Franz Ferdinand
Paul McCartney (live)
Omar Rodriguez
James Brown (singles)
Pat Green
The Bird and the Bee
Volcano Suns (reissue)
Nickel Eye
Louis Armstrong (live)
Johnny Thunders (reissue)
Leona Lewis
John Frusciante
Count Basie (reissue)
Gato Barbieri (reissue)
Roy Ayers (reissue)
Guggenheim Grotto
Duncan Sheik
Hoobastank
...and more!

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Saturday, January 24, 2009

The Best Albums of 2008: Young Eliot

Austin thought his little green plastic frog was cute, but this little Indian kid is waaaay cuter. And my list of 2008 records is way better, too:

1. King Tuff Was Dead [The Colonel Records]
Tweeked out pop with a punch. Every single one of these bizarre songs could get stuck in your head--and it all comes wrapped in a day-glo cover that will probably blind you.
2. Wavves [**** It Tapes]
So vinyl got too popular in '08 and the hipsters had to turn to cassettes, with this self-titled tape as the cream of the crop. Noise-pop not unlike Times New Viking, but better and more fun. It's a shame that Pitchfork has already hyped this band into oblivion.
3. Wax Museums [Douchemaster Records]
The Wax Museums are four kids from Denton, TX that play catchy, snotty punk with a great sense of humor. This is their first record since 2007's "Claw you Like a Cat" 7" to capture the frenzy of their live show.
4. The Okmoniks - Part Fever!!! [Slovenly]
While the rest of the internet was busy slobbering all over Nobunny's Love Visions, his band released a record that's every bit as catchy, rocks harder and has a ridiculous (but fun) organ. Bonus points for putting the exact same tracks on the A and B sides.
5. The Pets - Misdirection [self-released]
No frills, no gimmicks. This is straight-ahead punk with melody. It's not going to blow you away on first listen, but you'll keep wanting to spin it over and over.
6. Blank Dogs - The Fields [**** It Tapes]
If you weren't listening to lo-fi noise pop in 2008, then you were probably listening to synth punk. Prepare for Blank Dogs to blow up with their 2xLP from In the Red in '09. Of the many B. Dogs releases of '08, this one has the most stand-out songs.
7. Gentleman Jesse [Douchemaster]
I would say something, but when even David O'Brien, the AJC's beat-writer for the Braves digs this record, I don't think it's necessary.
8. Quintron - Too Thirsty 4 Love [Goner]
This record is just a blast. I'm a big dorky white guy and it still makes me want to dance. Their show at the Eyedrum with the Carbonas may well have been the best of '08. Electronic cajun pop punk.
9. Dead Luke (Sky Fi Industries)
A tape of scuzzy weirdo synth punk (count the adjectives!) that snuck out right before the end of the year and has been in my walkman ever since.
Token Jazz Record. David Murray & Mal Waldron - Silence [Justin Time]
This wasn't 2008's highest profile generational jazz crossover (Kenny Garrett's Sketches in MD w/Pharoah Sanders takes that cake), but it was the best. With an incredibly full sound from just tenor and piano, Silence provides the perfect balance of hard bop and Murray's more outsider tendecies

Just missed: Bill Dixon w/the Exploding Star Orchestra, Nomo, TV Ghost, Thee Oh Sees, Apache, Weakends, Times New Viking, Spooks, Goodnight Loving, Pumice, the Black and Whites, Baby Shakes, Thomas Function, Stolen Minks, The Magic I.D., Francisco Lopez, and Sex/Vid

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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Update: Scion Rock Fest tickets

[Above: Mastodon photo by Mark C. Austin]

Currently, the Scion Rock Fest site says that ticket registration will be available by Jan. 28.

Here's how the registration process will work when the site is ready:

1. Go to Scion.com/Rock
2. Enter your e-mail address and zip code where prompted.
3. You'll get an e-mail with your confirmation number.
4. Bring the confirmation number to the store and get your tickets.

Make sense? If you're from out of town, we're told you'll be put on a will-call list and can claim your tickets the day of show at the venue. That's it! Follow the instructions and you're golden.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to stop by the store and we'll do our best to answer them. Thanks!

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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The Best Albums of 2008: Austin

Austin is tired of lists. He's all listed out, frankly. List, list, list. But back in those heady days of ought eight, back before he swore to never make a list again (for at least a couple weeks, that is), he made the one below. His favorite albums of 2008:

1. Gentleman Jesse - s/t [Douchemaster]
2. No Age - Nouns [Sub Pop]
3. The Black and Whites - s/t [Douchemaster]
4. Hot Chip - Made in the Dark [Astralwerks]
5. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours [Goner]
6. Torche - Meanderthal [Hydrahead]
7. Deerhunter - Microcastle [Kranky]
8. Man Man - Rabbit Habits [Anti-]
9. Mahjongg - Kontpab [K]
10. Vivian Girls - s/t [In the Red]

Next up, Young Eliot!

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Monday, January 19, 2009

New. Release. Tuesday.

Nice batch of new stuff hitting our shelves first thing in the morrow. We already mentioned the Animal Collective LP, but the CD comes out this week, and it's smack dab in the middle of a mighty list that's just peppered with great acts. Have a look and we'll see you soon:

Antony and the Johnsons
Bon Iver (EP)
Animal Collective
Thom Yorke (reissues)
Matt and Kim
Andrew Bird
Umphrey's McGee
Fiction Family (members of Nickel Creek and Switchfoot)
A.C. Newman
Bruce Robison (greatest)
Titus Andronicus
Atmosphere (reissue)
Robert Pollard
Steve Earle/Del McCoury (reissue)
Modern Skirts
North Mississippi Allstars (live)
Beyman Brothers (ft. Christopher Guest)
...and more!

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Saturday, January 17, 2009

The Best Albums of 2008: Warren

Better late than never, right? And so it begins: Decatur CD's favorite albums of 2008. Over the next week or so, we'll unveil our year-end lists. Today's comes from one Warren Hudson, who you may know as the proprietor of our humble little indie shop. His list is in absolutely no particular order, and, as usual, one of the selections wasn't released in the year in question. But hey, think of it as "The top 11 albums Warren listened to in 2008, most of which also came out in 2008." Without further ado, then:

Thomas Function - Celebration
Nick Cave - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Eccentric Soul: The Young Disciples
Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal
Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Telltale Signs
Blitzen Trapper - Furr
She & Him - Vol. 1
Deerhunter - Microcastle
Lucinda Williams - Little Honey
Charlie Haden - Rambling Boy
Grachan Moncur III (2007)

Next up, Austin! Stay tuned...

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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Decatur CD's Upcoming Show Guide - January

[Above photo by

Don't know if you've noticed, but one of Decatur CD's New Year's Resolutions is to make sure this blog is updated regularly. We've slacked a little bit in the past, but no longer! More than just letting you know our hours of business, contact information and so on (see the right column of this page, y'all!), we're going to try and keep you informed on musical goings-ons in Atlanta and beyond. But we're rambling, right? Right.

January is already half over, but there are quite a few quality shows left in the month. Sure, none of them are a crazy-awesome metal fest, but we'll get back to that soon enough. Have a look at what great artists are coming to town in the next couple weeks:

January 16th - The Mighty Hannibal, Noot D' Noot @ Eyedrum
January 17th - Reel Big Fish @ Masquerade
January 17th - Dirty Dozen Brass Band @ Smith's Olde Bar
January 23rd - Les Savy Fav @ The EARL
January 21st-24th - The 2009 Stickfigure Showcase ft. Sorry No Ferrari, The Sublimator, Harken the Hands Askew, Strezo, Tealights, Envie, Nerdkween, Antic Clay, Retconned, Backseat Dreamer, Warning Light, The Feeding Fingers, Entertainment, Tenth to the Moon and Lid Emba @ Drunken Unicorn
January 24th - Paul Collins Beat, Gentleman Jesse @ The EARL
January 24th - The Gourds @ Smith's Olde Bar
January 25th - Fucked Up, Carbonas, Bukkake Boys, American Cheeseburger @ The EARL
January 25th - Randall Bramblett, Caroline Aiken, Geoff Achison @ Eddie's Attic
January 26th - MV & EE @ The EARL
January 27th - The Fray @ Variety Playhouse
January 29th - The Duhks @ Smith's Olde Bar
January 29th - Fiction Family (Nickle Creek/Switchfoot members) @ Variety Playhouse
January 29th-31st - We No Fun Fest ft. Judi Chicago, Thy Mighty Contract, Chopper, Vera Fang, Retconned, Lay Down Mains, Hollow Stars, High Marks, Hawks, The Sunglasses, Brass Castle, Skin Problems and Chrissakes @ Drunken Unicorn
January 30th - Constellations, Modern Skirts @ The EARL
January 30th - Brett Dennen @ Variety Playhouse
January 31st - The Features, The Selmanaires @ The EARL
January 31st - Keller Williams @ Variety Playhouse

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Get your Scion Rock Fest tickets at Decatur CD!

[Above: Click to enlarge the awesome!]

UPDATE (1/15): For all the out of town folks leaving comments on this post (and e-mailing us and calling us and sending us messages via carrier pigeon), hold up! We don't have tickets yet. But when we do, we'll make another blog post. At that time we'll start working out how you can pick up your tickets from the store when you get to Atlanta. Thanks!

--

Well, not quite yet, but soon. Many of you have probably heard this news floating around here or there, but we finally have details. The festival is happening on Saturday, Feb. 28th from noon to midnight at Masquerade Music Park. Tickets are absolutely free and you can get them here. We're told we'll have them sometime next week, and when we do there will be another blog post as well as an e-mail. Additionally, in a few weeks we'll have some limited edition silk-screened posters for giveaway to anyone who buys an album from one of the festival's artists. What artists are included? Glad that you asked. Look at the fantastic line-up below. It's a veritable who's who of modern-day metal:

Mastodon
Neurosis
High on Fire
Boris
1349
Cryptopsy
Torche
Nachtmystium
Wolves in the Throne Room
Baroness
Harvey Milk
Kylesa
Zoroaster
Withered
Krallice
Toxic Holocaust
Skeletonwitch
Rwake
A Storm of Light
Warbringer
Salome
Suidakra
Tyr
Alestorm
...and more!

That's right, "more." We've heard a rumor the actual line-up will include closer to 40 bands (24 are listed above), so look forward to some more announcements in the coming weeks. And in the meantime, get excited! This is going to be one crazy day of heavy music.

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Monday, January 12, 2009

New. Release. Tuesday.

No time for wit today! Make a joke and leave it in the comments for us. Be our sense of humor. In return, we'll be your new-release informants:

Derek Trucks
Arthur Lee (reissue)
Ravi Coltrane
Jeb Loy Nichols
Heather Headley
Wells for Zoe: Water for Life (ft. Sinead O'Connor, The Duhks, Tim O'Brien and more)
Eliane Elias
Joshua Redman
...and more!

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Saturday, January 10, 2009

Gentleman Jesse in MOJO magazine

Just when you thought Gentleman Jesse couldn't get any more heaps and piles and loads of positive press, from myriad Creative Loafing write-ups to an Artist of the Week honor from Paste and a Best New Music designation from Pitchfork, here comes another...from across the pond, no less. UK music magazine MOJO recently named Jesse one of its 9 for '09, calling his tunes, along with those of eight other up-and-coming artists, "some of the best new music on the planet." Have a look at the mag's blurb below:

9 for 2009 #1 Gentleman Jesse

Meanwhile, Jesse will soon be hitting the road with Paul Collins (he formerly of The Nerves) for a 10-day trek that kicks off at The EARL. It's shaping up to be a busy 2009 for the Gentleman!

Dates:

JANUARY
24th ATLANTA - THE EARL
26th MEMPHIS - HI-TONE
28th INDIANAPOLIS IN - TBA
29th MILWAUKEE – CLUB GARIBALDI´S
30th CHICAGO - THE BEAT KITCHEN
31st CLEVELAND - NOW THAT'S CLASS

FEBRUARY
1st PITTSBURGH -BELVEDERES
2nd BALTIMORE - THE TALKING HEAD
5th BOSTON – MIDDLE EAST
6th NEW YORK- TBA
7th WFMU LIVE BROADCAST

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

New. Release. Tuesday.

Above: Don't stare tooooo looooong.

First of all, happy 2009, ever'body. Apologies on the blog hiatus, but hey, everyone needs a break once in a while, right? We'll be posting our year-end favorites before too long, but first, some new releases are in order. A couple, anyway.

Probably most prominent is the new Animal Collective, which comes out on vinyl today (plus a free digital download!) and CD on Jan. 20. If the trippy cover above isn't enough to convince you to pick this one up, please note that Paste, Pitchfork and everyone (including your mother) is going bonkers for it. Sounds like the big release of 2009 (so far) to us. But hey, there's more! Have a look:

Animal Collective (vinyl + digital only)
Gourds
High on Fire (live)
Chatham County Line
Robert Earl Keen tribute (ft. Jason Boland, Wade Bowen, etc.)
...and more!