Radiohead and Tom Fool Idealistic Crusades for the New Year

Happy 2008, dear reader.

I’m a bit drink, but I’ll get through this, and I’m sure it will only be better.

Personally, I am looking forward to electing a new president (if I only had a brain), my next birthday (oh to be young), and, of course, the coming of the Mayan predicted apocalypse (good news for people who love bad news). Speaking of apocalypse, here is Radiohead’s webcast from yesterday evening, in its entirety. I watched the majority of it and was greatly pleased with it. I’m a bit drunk, but I am sober enough to admit that I admire Radiohead as a band for mixing a very beautiful message about the dangers and social ills the world faces with glorious music. We are truly lucky to have Radiohead, who can offer you the comfort of knowing that there is some hope for music. Fuck it, I’m giving them a “Nice Going Award” for this one, because these webcasts have been so good and In Rainbows was such a wonderful piece of music and they just never let you down.They have established a new paradigm for the activist musician, who can create art, while also raising questions about the world. I know I’m brown-nosing Radiohead as all people seem to do, but I admire Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, and Phil Selway so much for proving that music can serve a greater purpose than merely shaking your ass or making money (not that shaking your ass is a bad thing, don’t fight the beat). Maybe the In Rainbows giveaway was a bit of media scam, but I won’t be so machiavellian, because I think they are honest musicians with honest aims, and I wish them all the luck in the world in all their ventures. I suppose with the actual release of In Rainbows I’ll review it in the coming week, and oh boy, it’s gonna be positive.

Without further adieu and departing from my idealistic crusade, I give you “Scotch Mist,” Radiohead’s New Years’ Eve Broadcast. Adieu.

Here I’m allowed, everything all the time.

Of Montreal Doesn’t Suck

Of late, I’ve been posting a lot about artists that have been depressing, but talking to Jo, she encouraged me to stop bumming everyone the fuck out for christ’s sake and write about a band that isn’t disappointing me. My mind quickly jumped to Of Montreal.

For those heathens not acquainted with Of Montreal, prepare yourself for the brown nosing, as I present Cranberry Juice’s first “Nice Going Award“:

I’d like to take this moment to congratulate Of Montreal on not falling into the trap, like so many bands do, of growing dry and boring with age, recycling the same ideas over and over again. I could discuss how the mastermind behind the band, Kevin Barnes is a crazy motherfucker who can only be described as Bowie-esque, but you don’t need that, the fact that I have compared Bowie to Of Montreal should be startling enough. And why not, dear reader? Why should we not lavish praise upon modern bands that make wonderful music in the same we worship David Bowie, hallowed be his name. Of Montreal deserves this reward because like Bowie, it always evolves, like Bowie, it changes it’s sound, and like Bowie, it remains a band that is not afraid to piss people off or even dress all funky like. Plus, the weird ass videos, anyone remember Ashes to Ashes, I do. Make way for the homo superior indeed.

Dowse yourself in their beautiful juices with these two videos:

Of Montreal – Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse

Of Montreal – Gronlandic Edit (Yellow Submarine flashbacks aplenty)

Adieu, you pretty things.