Editors' Picks: April 2008
Mike Errico, Senior Editor... is crashing your party dress.
Elbow, The Seldom Seen Kid
If you write these Brits off as Coldplay with a real man on the mic, you're an idiot. This record's only drawback is that it takes listenings before it opens up its lush rock orchestrations and reveals the brutal poetry of the lyrics. How something like that - let's call it "depth" - could be conceived as a "drawback" is proof that we deserve my next pick ...
La Pequeña Amy Winehouse
Admit it: You're not sure which Winehouse is hotter. But you are sure which one is a better time.
Harptallica
When I think I'm wasting my precious moments on earth, I check in and think to myself, Well, at least I didn't spend hundreds of hours learning how to play "Master of Puppets" on the harp.
Menomena, Friend or Foe
The oddly varied and consistently interesting third record from the Portland, Oregonians came out last year, but still makes me happy when it pops up on shuffle. For an unhelpful description, picture a mix of TV on the Radio and Spoon. Better just to listen here.
James Jung, Assistant Editor
Ted Ligety
The American’s come from behind second run to win the Men’s Giant Slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
"Surfing at Midnight (Prins Thomas Mix)" - from Junior Boys’s Body Language mix
The Norwegian disco king reworks Sorcerer’s original to stunning effect; languid and luscious, this track seduces like a yolky summer sunset.
“Around Aground,” Bobby & Blumm
A standout track on their forthcoming Everybody Loves album, the Berlin-based duo has crafted a simple but infectious piece of acoustic pop.
SXSW
Bands, beer and free BBQ, what’s not to love?
Yeasayer Rides the Paris Metro
We’ve been finding the Brooklyn-based foursome's epic tunes pretty damn transcendent, but put them on a subway car and have them sing a cappella to cheering strangers? Spine tingling. Watch it at Stereogum.
Jordan Burchette, Executive Editor
Third, Portishead
The daywalkers of the electronic music super-genre's first album in 10 years makes you want to f**k, fight and mope all in one verse.
The Wire, Season 2 DVD
If you haven't seen this show and you know a friend who has, they're not going to shut up about it until you watch it, so you might as well start now. It's like a good book you can't take your eyes off of. Only it's not boring, like books.
34 Greatest Hits, Glenn Miller
Once you feel like you can no longer identify with new music, start playing stuff from the 1930s. It's the musical equivalent of taking the Iowa skills test for second graders.
Gerasimos Manolatos, Assistant Editor
Major League Baseball 2K8 (2K Sports)
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
MLB 08: The Show (Sony)
Platform: PlayStation 3
It’s hard to pick one over the other, but I’ll have to go with MLB 08: The Show, only because it’s a PS3 exclusive title and seems to have ratcheted up much of last year’s weird game play aspects. Any which way you choose, if you like baseball, you’ll love this year’s crop of baseball games for your next-gen systems. If you don’t like baseball, your mother raised you wrong.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (Ubisoft)
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Sure there may be a few extra guns and some flashy new gadgets, but when it comes to video game franchises this good, what happens in Vegas should rightfully stay in Vegas.
God Save the Fan, Will Leitch
The editor of Deadspin.com lampoons what sports media, specifically ESPN, has become, and how fans can enjoy sports again.
The Bedlam in Goliath, The Mars Volta
Screeching and shrieking aside, the Mars Volta’s vocal melody makes up for some of the expectedly strange lyrical references. “Wax Simulacra” and “Goliath” are the easiest tracks to digest and enjoy.
Stan Horaczek, Contributing Editor
The Baconator from Wendy's
It has six strips of bacon, a half-pound of meat, ketchup, cheese and mayo. Men's Fitness went out of their way to say you shouldn't eat it, so you know it's awesome.
Tip of the Iceberg EP, New Found Glory
It's awesome that a band as big as NFG is releasing an EP on Bridge Nine and it's even more awesome that the record rules. The Lifetime cover is perfect.
Legacy of Blood, Jedi Mind Tricks
Their message doesn't exactly hit home for me, but they're so good at what they do I listen to this record weekly. Vinnie Paz has the best voice in hip hop.
Peace on Earth, War on Stage EP, Blacklisted
Like Jedi Mind Tricks, they're also from Philly, but that's where the similarities stop. Everything Deathwish has put out lately fucking rules.
The Most, Down to Nothing
I have to admit that they're better live than they are recorded. But they held their own on the same bill as Earth Crisis and Shai Hulud so they get lots of cred for that.
Julien McNab, Executive Editor
Seventeen Seconds (Deluxe Edition), The Cure
After reluctantly throwing out my tape player, I had a few essential albums to reacquire. This was one of them. Stark, yet very easy to bop one's head to, Seventeen Seconds provided many a goth in the ’80s with a personal soundtrack to complement their withdrawn and misunderstood existence. On the bonus disc "I Dig You" provides levity and insight into what an early Cure gig must have felt like.
Dawn of an Army, Rick Atkinson
Just a few chapters in the recounting of the early days of our involvement in WWII and the imagery provided in this Pulitzer Prize-winning book is already unforgettable: (literally) green Army troops barfing over the railings during their transatlantic voyage from Virginia to Morocco, General Patton fuming on the deck of a destroyer while getting splattered by water and dye from incoming marker shells, impeccably groomed and arrogant French commanders.
Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
Thanks much to the Funky Nassau: The Compass Point Story compilation for reminding us of the genius of this track.
Twin Peaks: The Definitive Gold Box Edition
Where to start? Perhaps with the option to view Log Lady episode introductions. Soon, though, I elected not to view those - there's enough creepiness/weirdness to enjoy throughout. Anything having to do with Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) and food, or coffee (black as the sky on a moonless night please) is oddly comforting. Angelo Badalamenti's Laura Palmer's Theme does a good job of capturing the show's peaks and valleys of despair and hope, along with a good dose of cheesiness.
UNC 76, Duke 68
The game that handed the Tar Heels the 2008 ACC regular-season title. The game that handed Greg Paulus Danny Green's cojones.
Ryan Dombal, Blog Writer
... Fantasy sports are kinda like real sports with unicorns.
Ray J [ft. Yung Berg]: "Sexy Can I"
The sex tape star takes advantage of his newfound, um, notoriety with a song about taking photos of sexy young women.
Pruane2Forever: YouTube Movie Reviewer
The best film critic since Pauline Kael.
"Swagg," Teyana Taylor
Bada-boom, bada-bing -- this 17-year-old Pharrell-approved upstart is a problem.
Asia'h Epperson (American Idol)
Gone, but not forgotten.
Jim Carrey on Letterman
Still funny.
