Azzurri

it's got some really good songs - Pioneer to the Falls, Mammoth, Lighthouse, and Wrecking Ball. Pioneer might be their best ever. But the rest is mediocre to terrible. not even close to their debut.

Ashcroft's solo stuff is not up to par with The Verve, except for maybe a few songs here and there. the first album was decent. the last one sucked. i agree that Urban Hymns is great though. this could be interesting.

how do you know when/where to get tickets for this? is it going to be some secret password/fansite bullshit?

i just spoke to my mom about the sopranos episode and she was like "did you see Paolo in the Sopranos..." anyway, i didn't recognize him without his glasses on, and i hadn't talked to him for years, but the guy who comes in with AJ, sits on the stool to drink coffee and walks past the family to go to the restroom has been a family friend of ours for many years. i even worked at his pizzeria when i was in college. as far as i know, this is his first acting role. Paolo is from the same town outside of Naples as my family.

i agree that Halloween Head will probably be the worst song on the record, but it's kind of fun. after a few listens, i don't hate it as much as i did when i first heard it.

i saw them on Thursday at one of the 5 bowery ballroom shows in NYC. amazing. they are truly one of the best bands right now. the songs are just great live, they really shine. they seem more relaxed on stage as well - matt berninger went into the crowd during "Abel" and let the crowd sing with him. it was a lot of fun.

i agree...i hadn't heard that much Dinosaur Jr before. but this album is awesome. that guitar solo in Pick Me Up is killer.

the cover art is just so gay. didn't he beat up his drummer one night at a concert.?..i remember reading something about that.

yep, best of the year so far. i am going to see them at the end of the month. they are doing a five night stint at the bowery ballroom in NYC. all five shows sold out. i think the band might finally break out, as Alligator raised their profile considerably. not only is the musicianship impeccable, but there are so many cool lyrical snippets in the songs. "...You

the show has signed on for another three years, at 16 episodes a season

it's gets even darker too. the ending may leave you in tears. extremely powerful. McCarthy is just a genius. he will stand among the giants when all is said and done - faulkner, mellville, fitzgerald, hemingway, etc.

what, you mean the line "You wear those shoes like a dove..." is not brilliant? yeah, i know where you are coming from...it's hard to look past such stupid lyrics sometimes. that said, i heard a live version of another new song, Pioneer, and it was much better than this one.

the first album was great, but i coudn't even get through the new one. it's a totally different band now, but they changed for the worse.

Welsh Rich - i found this article on The National's website forum. Somone had transcribed an article that appears in Magnet magazine. This should give you some good background on the Springsteen thing: THE NATIONAL The Slow Build To Such Great Heights Bruce Springsteen wanted to praise him for his lyrics,but Matt Berninger,singer for Brooklyn-vi-Ohio band the National,had already left the building. The occasion:a tribute concert to Springsteen's Nebraska at which the National turned in a version of Mansion On The Hill before gathering on stage- along with a dozen or so other performe

apparently, Bruce Springsteen is a big fan of the band...ask them how that came about. i'd also be interested to know what contemporary bands they are into... good luck with the interview

this book should be required reading for all world leaders... it's a classic, and McCarthy is up there with the giants of literature.

they have just added a fifth show at the Bowery - June 1st. the other four appear to be sold out. FYI for NYC fans.

me too. can't wait to see them at the Bowerly Ballroom in May.

i love the album, especially the last 4 songs: Guest Room, Racing Like a Pro, Ada, and Gospel. Gospel might be my favorite. but that may change. there are no weak tracks here. i used to hate saying an album is a "grower," but that cliche applies here. it sort of floated by on first listen...now the melodies are in my head and i appreciate the layers more

i hear the similarities...but, of course, the lyrics to Mistaken for Strangers are much much better. as much as i like Interpol, the lyrics are just baffling to me.

these guys have to be one of the better bands out there at the moment...the drumming on this album is amazing.

it's emptiness, not emptyness

http://www.sendspace.com/file/agiqhj this is radio rip of "Mistaken for Strangers", which is admittedly crappy quality, but it's another great song.

there is supposedly another song floating around the net, "Mistaken for Strangers." there will probably be a leak of the whole album within the week

so you don't dig the guy's voice...too bad, they are actually one of more intelligent bands out there. great in concert too.