Now, this is going to create an huge, gaping hole in south street. Gone will be the uncomfortable black hole that was what made South St. what it is today and filling its spot -- who knows? -- my guess is a clothing store of some type. South St. has gradually transformed from punk shithole to kitschy shithole to kitschy shopping area all within ten years. If we're lucky 615 Records will stay open (great metal store) along with all the other anarchy/death type stuff they have going on right off South St. and it won't become just another shopping destination. But for the most part, South St. has become a watered down version of itself.
Also with the move of Zipperhead from the nexus of South St., we have a loud and clear signal -- Punk Rock is offically dead. Hot Topic has stolen the show, giving every suburban and urban kid a store where they can "officially" dress the part and buy the gear. Why so seek out an independent retailer when you can buy your hair dye and Yankee Candles at the same time, in the same place? Mall culture is sweet!
With that, the three records I bought. Two at the new Spaceboy location (shitty) and one at...uh, Tower Records. I swear it couldn't be found anywhere else:
- Sufjan Stevens -- Illinois:
What to say about this album? It's a sprawling 74 minutes, covers every symbol, notable figure and range of melancholy the state of Illinois has seen/felt. It starts off with a fantastic piano figure that sounds EXACTLY like the Illinois I saw (early this summer, northwest IL, Lake Forest area). The piano echoes lush lands, big skys, and quiet houses and a sense of quiet community. "John Wayne Gacy Jr." is also one of the most heartwrenching songs ever -- if anything, listen to this track.
I'd like to go more into the album, but I fear that I haven't the time and I haven't given it the time it deserves. By the way, yes, this was the record I bought at Tower, but only because all other indie outlets were fresh out. Kids, when Stevens stops his 50 state tour after Wisconsin and all these shits are collector's items 30 years from now, my copy of Illinois is going to have fucking Superman on it and people will recognize me as a indie elder worthy of respect. (For those of you that don't know, a small order of this album have Superman on the cover. DC Comics is making their record label change the cover to something different because of copyright infringement. A new shipment with different covers will be available in the beginning of August. Also, Sufjan has embarked a 50 state/album tour. So far it has taken him to Michigan and Illinois.)
- Jamie Lidell -- Multiply:
This one has also been recieving a lot of press lately and for some pretty good reason. The dude is white and can sing like any hot late 6o's, early 70's Motown act. He has a good sense for influence (Sly, the Godfather, etc.) and a good production sense. Right off the bat, he shows us he can do the old soul stuff -- like he's proving his worth -- but goes on to kick out the hot shyte. It ranges from nice soul to dancefloor-panty-droppers. I actually have slug-trails in my own BVDs from this.
- Pissed Jeans -- Shallow:
Yes, this is the right shit. Big, loud, mucky, loud, fucked-up rock and fucking roll. I can't hear what he's screaming, but thankfully there's a lyric sheet: "I'm always so full of cum/Never run out, not even once". Sometimes the melodies, er, riffs get obscured by the chiaroscuro of feedback, but this shit is moving forward like a Mack truck. It's gritty, it's unseemly, it's snotty, it's dumb as rocks, it's loud. And it's from Allentown, PA. Yes! PS: I was wrong, punk is not dead -- it's just dressed in different clothes! Also: yes, Pissed Jeans, this record had to be good because of the band's name.
