Chicago Bound

I'm veering a little off course with this post, as I get ready for two awesome shows coming to Northwestern. We've got Wilco coming Friday (about to release Sky Blue Sky...more on that soon) and then we've got His Birdness (Andrew Bird) coming on Monday night.

But I'm in a Chicago kind of mood tonight, and so I figured I'd give a little taste of some cool Chicago blues from Jimmy Rogers' "Chicago Bound" and the harmonica stylings of Charlie Musselwhite on "Chicago Sunset".

I'm sure you'll enjoy these goodies, but just in case you're not totally satisfied, I'm gonna give you a little Wilco love as well.

Check out Jimmy Rogers--Chicago Bound
Check out Charlie Musselwhite--Chicago Sunset
Wilco-I'm Trying to Break Your Heart (Live Version)

It's Time for The Changes

Not really. I'm talking about another Chicago band called The Changes. If you haven't heard of them yet, you're not alone. Although they're relatively popular within the confines of the Windy City, the word hasn't spread too fast to the rest of the country. But don't let that sway you. The Changes' debut Today is Tonight is a trippy-indie-pop-album that sounds a lot like the lo-fi product of The Strokes from their fantastic debut Is This It?

Today is Tonight, however, doesn't have all the weightiness about it that The Strokes had. This is an album that isn't lacking in substance, but then again, it isn't a model in breathtaking songwriting either. Nevertheless, it would be a shame to talk down this album. Today is Tonight is about an aesthetic and the band has carefully manicured the album to preserve it. The songs are quite different from one another but they have a certain coherence to them that enhances the total package. Where many bands simply forget the album concept and think only in terms of singles, The Changes seem to have put consistently great tracks on Today is Tonight.

Take for example, the song "When I Wake", which features a 'The Ark-esque' guitar riff and an Elton John-a-la-Crocodile-Rock playfulness to it, is simply 3:15 of bliss. "Modern Love" begins immediately with a rather catchy beat and an even more infectious verse that leads into a very U2-like chorus. My favorite, "Sisters", has a piano-based riff that delivers more electro-pop ecstasy than anything I've heard. During the bridge, the 'Listen to your heart beat' part is divine.

I should stop writing. Go and buy the album.
Listen to "Sisters" (4.91 / 5)
Listen to "When I Wake" (4 / 5)

Keepin' it Green

The next few posts are going to be dedicated to Chicago-based artists and bands. Being that I'm from Chicago, and I'm going to school near the city, I thought I should let you faithful readers (and those who get here from elbo.ws) know a little bit about the best indie music scene in the country (sorry Seattle, it's true).

So for today, I'm going to talk about an up-and-coming electro-pop-rock Chicago band that goes by the name Greenskeepers. Aside from incredibly pleasing artwork for their albums and such, there is actually substance to this band. Every time I listen to the music from their latest release Polo Club, I keep on trying to box it in to a genre or a sound. I'll be honest--I haven't figured it out quite yet. It's a little bit like Depeche Mode, but more interesting. It's a little bit like lounge music, but more varying and certainly better lyrics. Greenskeepers take rather dark subjects and just turn the light on. It almost reminds of the way Nick Drake used to write such beautiful music for darker songs.

What I find the most intriguing about Greenskeepers is that their music takes everything good about trippy electronic grooves and melds them with some above average lyrics. Granted, there are a few instrumentals on Polo Club, like the infectious "Martini Lunches" or "Coconuts". Both surround in a wall of sound that envelopes you, caresses you, and then rocks with you all night long. Some might call it "mood music", but I think it's nothing of the sort. Take a listen to "15 Minutes" and you'll realize your head's bopping to the catchy bass while you can help but chime in with the words, 'Last Night, Last Saturday Night'.

I suggest you have a look at their album, Polo Club.
Not convinced?
Have a listen to "15 Minutes"
Have a listen to "Bloodclots"

Bear With Me

That's right, everybody. The Chicago Bears play their much anticipated playoff game at noon today. In honor of this exciting day, I'm going to do a little Chicago Bears themed post. Check for a bonus below.

1) Chicago Symphony Orchestra-Bear Down Chicago Bears
"Bear Down Chicago Bears" is the classic, timeless anthem of the Chicago Bears. Where ever you find yourself on Sunday--if you are in Chicago--you will hear this. Now the song actually has words, but this version is courtesy of the famed Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I thought it was too cool to pass it up.

2) Sufjan Stevens-Sleeping Bear, Sault Saint Marie
Although this song is actually about Michigan towns "Sleeping Bear" and "Sault Saint Marie" (SSM has a great Dairy Queen, I might add), nothing could describe the way the Chicago Bears have been hibernating over the past two weeks. Just watch out when the sleeping bear awakes at noon.

3) Mike Ditka in Monday Night Football Intro
Mike Ditka did this minute and a half long spot for ESPN for Monday Night Football several weeks back. It's chilling, it's hair-raising, it's hilarious. It's fantastic.

Also!!!!
Bonus. In honor of the fact that I'm hoping the Bears are going to beat the Seattle Seahawks, I'm going to give you a song as an extended metaphor of how bad we'll beat them.
Get ready for this.
Smashmouth Acapella--This is an unreleased acapella part of a potential Smashmouth song....It's terrible and it's hilarious. What's your favorite line? Mine is the whole off-key chorus that leads into the awkward bridge ("Don't you really like the view"). Thanks to grizzly bear.