Against Me! has Nervous Energy.

If you've followed any branch of "indie" or "punk" music, you've probably at least heard the name Against Me! somewhere along the lines. the northern florida punkers who made some great records early on, then managed to somehow alienate half of their fanbase by signing to a major label after they said they wouldn't. We live in trying times, people....Musicians have to make a living too.

Lineup changes plagued AM! around 2007 or so, with longtime drummer Warren Oakes jumping ship to open a restaurant back in Gainesville. Hot Water Music's George Rebelo was soon enlisted to jump behind the kit and record/tour with AM! As fate would have it though, George's commitments w/ HWM soon began to again make themselves known. Somehow Jay Weinberg (son of E Street Band stickman and late night band leader, Max Weinberg) found his way into the lineup and he'll be rocking behind the kit as Against Me! begins to tour. Jay is hittin' the skins hard in this vid, and so it appears that he's more than suitable to be the next in a revolving door of drummers. Let's just hope he doesn't go all "This is Spinal Tap" on thangs.

Against Me! plays Emo's here in Austin on January 26th, 2011.

-Marty.


"Nervous Energies" is a video series done by an extremely talented rock photographer named Ryan Russell. You can look at his photos here:

http://www.ryanrussell.net/

Nervous Energies youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/nervousenergies

Sink, War Eagle, Sink.

This past Monday 1/10/11, I watched the BCS national championship game with my roomates here in Austin. As allegations swirled abound Cam Newton, he managed to go for 262 yards in the air, passed for two touchdowns and ran for about 65 yards. He also gave up a fumble and an interception. While his performance may not have been as showstopping as those earlier this season, it was still stellar for a national championship contest and he was still a whole lot of fun to watch.

Football aside, we all know how much scandal has encompassed this cat's persona since he strapped on an Auburn Tigers #2 Jersey. The Cliffs notes basically come out something like this: his dad tried to get Mississippi State to bascically "buy" him, he also stole a laptop while a freshman at the University of Florida. (he was charged and later sentenced to an inclusion program.)

People are talking. Newspapers are selling. Sportscenter has it's highest ratings EVER. Scandal in NCAA division I athletics is something people can sink their teeth into, and for good reason. It's easy to point fingers, "THEY BROKE THE RULES, BOO!!" But people, lets be realistic. We would all like to think that incredibly talented athletes, and those who surround them, (i.e. friends, family) are people that piss integrity and have larger than life morals, not to mention believe in doing the right thing all the time. I mean, they should, shouldn't they?

Honestly, yes, doesn't mean they're not human. If I'm Cecil Newton, and I have a bartering chip of a son who's a five star juco transfer QB, I play those chips. Especially if I need the money. Who are we kidding here kids? This kind of crap happens EVERY DAY with D1 recruiting. Hell, when I was at UD I remember overhearing a rumor of a basketball recruit's family getting their mortgage paid off in exchange for their son playing the high post for the Flyers. If you think every blue chip athlete and their families are squeaky clean church-goers, then you're just as naive and gullible as the major media makes you out to be. (sorry, ESPN. We're not idiots. remember the baseball steroid scandal? Barry Bonds' jaw was as big as the titanic. The cat was out of the bag.)

So the NCAA tries to police these high faluten programs to make sure behavior like this isn't going on. The truth is, they know it's going on and can't do anything to stop it, so they make an example out of a couple of programs every year and move on. Vacate some regular season/bowl wins. put teams on probation and make them ineligible for bowl games for a few years. After that's over, those clean hands are just gonna get dirty again. If you break it down, D1 football programs basically make deals to play other teams outside their conferences, with certain major broadcasters involved. Both schools AND ABC/ESPN/NBC whoever gets a piece of that action. Smaller schools get more exposure on a national stage. Conference championships are pretty much handled by said conference, with even MORE $$ going to the broadcasters. the bowl games, OH MY GOD, don't get me started, are ALL SPONSORED BY MAJOR CORPORATIONS that basically try to wield humungoid ad campaigns during said bowl game!!

Bottom line: all of this private money is involved in what these kids do. The NCAA doesn't have DICK to do with division 1 college football. Yet, for some reason, they try to sanction it, in a feeble attempt to cover their ass and look like some kind of upstanding governing body. I've got news for you people; the Reggie Bushes of the world are still going to get escalades. the palms are still going to be greased. The system won't ever change and the NCAA is going to keep looking like a bunch of old farts with their heads up their asses. It's a flawed system. and it's not getting any better.

Cam Newton is, as I write this, sitting on a la-z-boy. Probably listening to the new Kanye West record. He's also looking at his heisman trophy, and waiting for the BCS national championship trophy to finish its' tour of the wal-marts of Alabama for the second straight year in a row so he can figuratively put that in his trophy case too. He'll go high in this April's NFL draft, make millions of dollars, and no one will ever talk about his brush with controversy again. Until it surfaces that Gene Chizik personally took him to the strip club and bought him a few lap dances and a t-bone steak, before giving him the keys to a brand new lexus, a'la Shaquille O'neal's character in Blue Chips.

Hey Coach, ....how'd you like my mobility in the pocket?

-Marty.

Top 15 of 2010.

Every year I find myself saying; "20- was a banner year for music"....Let's face it, every year is a banner year for music. There are hundreds upon thousands of new releases every year. These would happen to be the cream of what 2010 had to offer. Many memorable records to come out this year, some of these I can see myself blasting for years to come. Enjoy!






Ted Leo and the Pharmacists-The Brutalist Bricks
(Matador)

Theodore and the 'ol R/X's experience some lineup changes, add a second guitarist, and get serious on the BB, a collection of anthemic lead guitar and fervent melodies that has a much more concentrated feel than 2007's Living With the Living. Ya done good, TL.







None More Black-Icons
(Fat Wreck)

When NMB's mastermind Jason Schevchuk decided to take some time off shortly after NMB's last opus This is Satire, I was sad. Sad at the fact that I may never get to hear another song written by this incredibly gifted songwriter. His side project, LaGrecia, was good, but it wasn't the same. Icons not only feels like a NMB record, it's the best thing, hands down, that Schevchuk has done.





The Corin Tucker Band- 1,000 Years
(Kill Rock Stars)

While I thought this would reak of "I was in Sleater-Kinney, now I'm going to make a solo album" smell, I was pleasantly suprised when it didn't. A lot more of an acoustic feel, also mult-tracked vocals. Corin branches out on this record, but not before giving us some songs that could have easily been taken from The Woods sessions. All's well that ends well.










Superchunk-Majesty Shredding
(Merge)

I'll be honest and say that I hadn't ever listened to Superchunk before hearing this "comeback album"..which is anything but. After sampling bits and pieces of said back catalog, Majesty picks up right where Superchunk left off. All I know, is, I want to play guitar like these guys/gals, and I'm not worthy.





Kylesa-Spiral Shadow
(Season of Mist)

While it's hard to tell if Kylesa is going more experimental or more mainstream whilst listening to all Eleven tracks on SS, one thing is clearly evident: Kylesa has broken new ground by fusing psychedelia and metal into one livng, breathing, behemoth being.








Ryan Adams and the Cardinals-III/IV
(PAX AM)

Ryan decides to rock again, this time, he really brings it. heavy use of a hammond b3 organ resonates; and for good reason. This isn't a Whiskeytown record. Crank this up loud.










Wavves-King of the Beach
(Fat Possum)

Lo-Fi, but still somehow has balls....all the blips and effects and quirks that usually make me hate a lot of art-rock bands somehow works for Wavves, to their favor. a lot of infectious melodies and a song called "Super Soaker". Can't go wrong.









Sage Francis-Li(f)e
(ANTI)

When a poet/rapper decides to make a record in which no samples are used, the results are usually not as good as this. Sage realizes what he's capable of on Li(f)e and what comes out of this experiment is nothing short of astounding.









Eagle Claw-Poacher
(Self-Released)

What happens when you lock a few guitarists and a drummer in their practice space with a bunch of sludge records, all their gear, sans microphones? Eagle Claw, that's what happens. Explosions in the Sky better play a comeback show, because when it comes to Austin's instrumental rock crown, Eagle Claw is doing some serious dethroning.






The Roots-How I Got Over
(Def Jam)
The Most cohesive Roots release since 1999's Things Fall Apart. While subsequent releases rely heavy on experimentation, Over picks up on exuberance and packs the 1-2 punch that will put The Roots back on the map.









The Black Keys-Brothers
(Nonesuch)

Another stellar outing by Akron, OH's prodigal sons, Lebron be damned. Even with Danger Mouse behind the boards for round 2, the Keys still keep it raw and rugged.










Big Boi-Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
(Purple Ribbon/Def Jam)

Pure Hip-Hop fun. Big-Boi keeps his southern-fried flare intact for some monster rhymes, along with killer production from several different camps. Feels fresh and inspired all the way through. Do I kind of like T.I. after listening to this record? Well, yes.








Grinderman-2
(ANTI)

I've known for some time of Nick Cave's exploits, but have taken little time to shed much-needed light to it. If Neil Young went through a period in which he listened to a lot of Bauhaus, It'd probably sound a lot like 2. This is a good thing.








Girl Talk-All Day
(Illegal Art)

After 2007's Feed the Animals, we were all clamoring for more. I was expecting to be a little let down by AD, and when I wasn't, there was a Fugazi/Beyonce mashup that was like icing on the cake.









Arcade Fire-The Suburbs
(Merge)

Everything that everyone is saying about this record is true. While I enjoyed AF's previous two releases, they seemed a bit partisan; The Suburbs IS the sleeping giant that is The Arcade Fire waking up and making something that will outlast many of their contemporaries.




Honorable Mention:

Against Me!-White Crosses
(Sire)

The Hold Steady-Heaven is Whenever
(Vagrant)

Spoon-Transference
(Merge)


The Sword-Warp Riders
(Kemado)