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The All-About: Suburban Heart
Suburban Heart has been one of my most highly anticipated records of 2013. Since Winterpop hit early last year The All-About have released a couple singles and an EP, including the almost perfect jam “Sadie Hawkins.” The build up to the new full-length dates all the way back to last year, but things have heated up recently with the release of two new singles, “Jessie” and “Whatever, Happy Birthday.”
The two new tracks are both great and really set the bar high for Zac Coe’s not-so-solo project (featuring Oliver Ignatius, Alexandre Da Silva, Gabby Ambrosio, and Layne Montgomery). I had nothing but faith in the album, and it came out even better than I could have hoped. Gone are the charming Killers references, replaced by smart Springsteen cues and mentions of a couple of the Boss’s hits in the lyrics. It’s a more mature record than Winterpop, but no less fun.
The album deals a lot with growing up, losing touch, and the difficulties in trying to go home again. Zac might be the most nostalgic early twenty-something in the world, but he seems ready to let go of the past by the end of Suburban Heart. One facet of life that gets a lot of attention is growing apart from the friends you had as an adolescent, and I think the chord struck here is the most relatable on the album.
On the sprawling “Nashville,” Coe and a friend lament their waning time together knowing things can’t stay the same forever. There’s a certain comfort in knowing someone as well as we know our closest friends as we grow up, and an uneasiness comes when we leave that behind. When he sings “All I need is a full heart to get where I’m going, but I want you to be here when I come back,” it’s a bittersweet reality we’ve all experienced.
There are a lot of precious memories relived here as well. On the title track Coe sings “Don’t you wanna take me home? The only roads that we’ve ever known are from your house to mine.” The song is about star crossed lovers who are too busy to for a relationship and how every second without the other person is a moment wasted. This is the first instance where you feel the sonic similarities with Winterpop. The horns and piano used here aren’t new to The All-About, but they fit so well that its hard to complain.
I love the opening of “Jessie.” It might be my favorite 45 seconds of the whole album. With just a synth and his voice, Coe reminisces and it feels like our own memories. “I could see in the way you moved your hips it was nearly dawn, you were feeling a little bit anxious. Remember how you tried to dare me to run the light because nobody would see when I drove you home? So every girl just grab a boy, lately I’m losing my voice, baby. Singing along, with the radio.”
In the biggest surprise of Suburban Heart, “Lyla Garrity” opens with beautiful strings that give way to a Peter, Bjorn, and John-like whistling. The outro of the song finds the two components coming together perfectly to create a magical moment of poignancy and acceptance.
Suburban Heart may not sound like its a giant leap from Winterpop, but lyrically and thematically it is a great step forward. Zac uses his own past to assemble songs that are so universally relatable this album will probably be translated in more languages than Beowulf. The album comes out on Tuesday May 21st, and will be available on Bandcamp. You can also find all of The All-About’s previous releases there, and you should download all of them.
2013 Grammy Predictions
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the Grammys. On the one hand, I’m all for a night to celebrate music. On the other hand, I’m not really sure what we’re celebrating. Record sales? Mediocrity? Based on the albums that have won Best Album over the last 20 years, it can’t be quality. Two movie soundtracks have won (The Bodyguard, O’ Brother Where Art Thou?), Steely Dan beat out Beck’s Midnite Vultures and Radiohead’s Kid A. Maybe three times over the same 20 year period, they got it right. In 1998 and 1999 Bob Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind and Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill took top honors. In 2004 Outkast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below won perhaps the most hotly contested race for Best Album in decades, beating out The White Stripes Elephant, Justin Timberlake’s Justified, Under Construction by Missy Elliot, and the baffling Fallen by Evanescence.
Perhaps the most maddening thing about the Grammy’s is the bizarre time frame they use. Records are considered from October 1st to September 30th. So, if you put out a single in August, but you’re album doesn’t come out until November, you can be nominated for the song but the album can’t be nominated until the following year. Maybe it makes sense with the way radio play occurs, but does anyone really listen to the radio anymore?
I don’t have terribly high hopes for the albums I’d like to see win this year. My personal choices for what SHOULD win will be in CAPS. What I think WILL win will be in bold.
Album of the Year
» The Black Keys - El Camino
» Fun. - Some Nights
» Mumford & Sons - Babel D’oh!
» FRANK OCEAN-CHANNEL ORANGE
» Jack White - Blunderbuss
Record of the Year
» The Black Keys – “Lonely Boy”
» Kelly Clarkson – “Stronger”
» Fun. feat. Janelle Monae – “We Are Young”
» Gotye feat. Kimbra – “Somebody That I Used to Know” D’oh!
» FRANK OCEAN-”THINKIN BOUT YOU”
» Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Best New Artist
» The Alabama Shakes
» Fun. D’oh!
» Hunter Hayes
» The Lumineers
» FRANK OCEAN
Best Pop Vocal Album
» Kelly Clarkson - Stronger D’oh!
» Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials
» FUN-SOME NIGHTS
» Maroon 5 - Overexposed
» Pink - The Truth About Love
Song of the Year
» Ed Sheeran – “The A Team”
» Miguel – “Adorn”
» Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”
» KELLY CLARKSON-”STRONGER (WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU)”
» Fun. – “We Are Young” WooHoo!
Best Pop Solo Performance
» Adele – “Set Fire to the Rain (Live)” D’oh!
» KELLY CLARKSON-”STRONGER (WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU)”
» Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”
» Katy Perry – “Wide Awake”
» Rihanna – “Where Have You Been”
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
» Florence and the Machine – “Shake It Out”
» FUN.-”WE ARE YOUNG”
» Gotye feat. Kimbra – “Somebody That I Used to Know” D’oh!
» LMFAO – “Sexy and I Know It”
» Maroon 5 – “Payphone”
Best Dance Recording
» Avicii – “Levels”
» CALVIN HARRIS FT. NE-YO-”LET’S GO”
» Skrillex feat. Sirah – “Bangarang” D’oh!
» Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin – “Don’t You Worry Child”
» Al Walser – “I Can’t Live Without You”
Best Dance/Electronic Album
» Steve Aoki - Wonderland
» The Chemical Brothers Don’t Think
» DEADMAU5-ALBUM TITLE GOES HERE
» Kaskade Fire & Ice
» Skrillex Bangarang WOOHOO!
Best Rock Performance
» Alabama Shakes – “Hold On”
» The Black Keys – “Lonely Boy” D’oh!
» Coldplay – “Charlie Brown”
» Mumford & Sons – “I Will Wait”
» BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-”WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN”
Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
» Anthrax – “I’m Alive”
» Halestorm – “Love Bites (So Do I)” D’oh!
» Iron Maiden – “Blood Brothers”
» LAMB OF GOD-”GHOST WALKING”
» Marilyn Manson – “No Reflection”
» Megadeth – “Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)”
Best Rock Song
» Jack White – “Freedom at 21″
» Mumford & Sons – “I Will Wait”
» The Black Keys – “Lonely Boy” D’oh!
» Muse – “Madness”
» BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-”WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN”
Best Rock Album
» The Black Keys, El Camino D’oh!
» Muse, The 2nd Law
» Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto
» BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-WRECKING BALL
» Jack White, Blunderbuss
Best Alternative Music Album
» FIONA APPLE-THE IDLER WHEEL
» Bjork, Biophilia
» Gotye, Making Mirrors D’oh!
» M83, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
» Tom Waits, Bad As Me
Best R&B Performance
» Estelle – “Thank You”
» Robert Glasper Experiment feat. Ledisi – “Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.)
» Luke James – “I Want You”
» MIGUEL-”ADORN”
» Usher – “Climax” WooHoo!
Best Traditional R&B Performance
» Anita Baker – “Lately”
» Beyonce – “Love on Top” WooHoo!
» MELANIE FIONA-”WRONG SIDE OF A LOVE SONG”
» Gregory Porter – “Real Good Hands”
» SWV – “If Only You Knew”
Best Urban Contemporary Album
» Chris Brown, Fortune
» Miguel, Kaleidoscope Dream
» FRANK OCEAN-CHANNEL ORANGE WooHoo!
Best R&B Album
» Robert Glasper Experiment, Black Radio D’oh!
» Anthony Hamilton, Back To Love
» R. KELLY-WRITE ME BACK
» Tamia, Beautiful Surprise
» Tyrese, Open Invitation
Best Rap Performance
» Drake feat. Lil’ Wayne – “HYFR (Hell Ya F—ing Right)”
» JAY-Z & KANYE WEST-”NIGGAS IN PARIS” WooHoo!
» Nas – “Daughters”
» Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz – “Mercy”
» Young Geezy feat. Jay-Z & Andre 3000 – “I Do”
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
» Flo Rida feat. Sia – “Wild Ones”
» JAY-Z & KANYE WEST FEAT. FRANK OCEAN-”NO CHURCH IN THE WILD” WooHoo!
» John Legend feat. Ludacris – “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”
» Nas feat. Amy Whinehouse – “Cherry Wine”
» Rihanna feat. Jay-Z – “Talk That Talk”
Best Rap Song
» Nas – “Daughters”
» Wale feat. Miguel – “Lotus Flower Bomb”
» Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz – “Mercy”
» Drake feat. Lil’ Wayne – “The Motto”
» JAY-Z & KANYE WEST-”NIGGAS IN PARIS” WooHoo!
» Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa Featuring Bruno Mars – “Young, Wild & Free”
Best Rap Album
» Drake, Take Care WooHoo!
» LUPE FIASCO-FOOD & LIQUOR PT II, THE GREAT AMERICAN RAP ALBUM PT 1
» The Roots, Undun
» Nas, Life Is Good
» Rick Ross, God Forgives, I Don’t
» 2 Chainz, Based on a T.R.U. Story
Best Country Song
» Carrie Underwood – “Blown Away” D’oh!
» Ronnie Dunn -”Cost of Livin’ “
» Eli Young Band – “Even If It Breaks Your Heart”
» Alan Jackson – “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore”
» ERIC CHURCH-”SPRINGSTEEN”
Best Country Solo Performance
» Dierks Bentley – “Home”
» Eric Church – “Springsteen”
» Ronnie Dunn – “Cost of Livin’ “
» Hunter Hayes – “Wanted”
» BLAKE SHELTON-”OVER”
» Carrie Underwood – “Blown Away” WooHoo!
Best Americana Album
» The Avett Brothers, The Carpenter
» John Fullbright, From the Ground Up
» The Lumineers, The Lumineers
» Mumford & Sons, Babel
» BONNIE RAIT-SLIPSTREAM WooHoo!
Best Blues Album
» Shemekia Copeland, 33 1/3
» DR. JOHN-LOCKED DOWN WooHoo!
» Ruthie Foster, Let It Burn
» Heritage Blues Orchestra, And I Still Rise
» Joan Osborne, Bring It on Home
Top 10 Shows of 2012
I think it’s easy to say that in 2012 I went to more shows than any previous year of my life. I saw a greater variety of styles as well-everything from hip-hop and afrobeat to blues and indie pop. Just the way I like it. These ten shows were the ones that really got me excited about being out and witnessing great music in the moment. I know I tend to favor the lesser-known bands from Chicago or Brooklyn (or Oakland), but when it comes down to forking over some hard-earned cash, sometimes the bigger names are big for a reason…
10. The Shams Band/Daniel Ellsworth and the Great Lakes (July 23rd at Schubas)
9. Bhi Bhiman (4 shows in 2012-Park West, Schubas, Lincoln Hall, Uncommon Ground)
8. Of Montreal (March 28th at Metro)
7. Wilco/The Congregation/Andrew Bird (July 8th at Fifth Third Ballpark)
6. Sons Of An Illustrious Father/Mooner/The Canoes (July 20th at Observatory Studios)
5. Fiona Apple (March 18th at Lincoln Hall)
4. Prince (September 24th at House Of Blues)
No videos unless you want The Purple One to sue you.
3. Frank Ocean (August 3rd at Metro)
2. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (September 11th at Wrigley Field)
1. Jeff Mangum (February 6th and 7th at Athenaeum Theatre)
Bruce Springsteen At Wrigley
I’m in Miami on my way to an island vacation for a few days. No time for a real review of this show-I’ll just say it was revelatory in every way. Why I never saw Springsteen before I’ll never know (yes I do-$$). So instead of writing about it, let me show you via some videos Kari captured on my phone.
Bruce Springsteen-Wrecking Ball
A lot has changed in the nearly forty years since Asbury Park introduced Bruce Springsteen to the world. Acclaimed shortly after as one of the great american songwriters, and the voice of blue collar America, Springsteen has spoken for the little guy like a modern-day Tom Joad. His early work was a bit political, but mostly storytelling through the eyes of a keen observer. Over the last two decades, his songs have turned into great fodder for protests. As those who came before him have been writing more and more about personal, introspective moments, Springsteen has taken the torch that Dylan lit with his The Times They Are A-Changin’ album.
On Wrecking Ball, it’s all about anger. The economic collapse and the inability of our government to reconcile their differences for the good of the country seems to be the center of Bruce’s attention. Each song, with the exception of “We Take Care Of Our Own,” touch on different ways this failure has touched families and communities. The album also solidifies Springsteen’s position as the reverend of American rock and roll.
Never one to rest on his laurels, The Boss tries some new tricks on this album, most notably adding some hip-hop to the song “Rocky Ground.” Now, it would be a lie if I said I had complete confidence in this decision. The idea of having anything other than that signature Bruce sound seems like sacrilege, but actually it isn’t bad. In fact, I’d go out on a limb and say it’s the second best thing about the song. The best thing is the gospel choir providing vocals on the refrain. The worst is Springsteen’s backing vocals that sound like they were lifted off of BB King’s appearance on “Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand” by Primitive Radio Gods. The rap verse is as follows:
You use your muscle and your mind and you pray your best
That your best is good enough, the Lord will do the rest
You raise your children and you teach ‘them to walk straight and sure
You pray that hard times, hard times, come no more
You try to sleep, you toss and turn, the bottom’s dropping out
Where you once had faith now there’s only doubt
You pray for guidance, only silence now meets your prayers
The morning breaks, you awake but no one’s there
The woman rapping goes uncredited as far as I can tell, but she does a good job. It seems like hearing a rap in the middle of a song like this would be a shock, but if fits into the flow very well. Maybe we aren’t far from a Springsteen/Lil Wayne collab.
In one of the more Dylan-influenced tunes, Bruce is singing about a character who has taken a string of odd jobs to make ends meet. “Jack Of All Trades” is the kind of tune that reminds you of the sacrifices people make to fulfill the needs of those we care about. There are lyrics that depict that, but the one I’m most interested in is toward the end of the song. Remember on “Masters Of War,” when Dylan says “I hope that you die and your death will come soon?” Not to be outdone, Springsteen takes it one step further:
So you use what you’ve got
And you learn to make do
You take the old, you make it new
If I had me a gun
I’d find the bastards and shoot ‘em on sight
I know that as far as it goes, my opinion on this album doesn’t really make a difference to you. If you like Springsteen, you’ve probably already pre-ordered the deluxe edition. If you hate him, I’m not gonna change your mind. I can say this, though: His work over the past few albums has been praised so highly, that living up to expectations is a fantasy. For my money, this is his best album since The Rising. Wrecking Ball proves that Bruce is still on top of his game, and one of the few legends of rock and roll willing to change with the times and still make music that is one hundred percent genuine.
