Complete ACL '07 Wrap-Up

This year's festival was even better than last year, probably due to the fact that my dad and I were better prepared. But as always, there was plenty of great music to be found. Here's a day-by-day recap. (If I only saw one or two songs, a general recommendation is given. If I saw at least half of a group's set, they are given a letter grade):

FRIDAY:
Amy Lavere | BMI
Funky country-pop with some sweet bass action. Recommended

Pete Yorn | AT&T
Unfortunately, the fire at the Budweiser tent caused many delays during check-in, so I missed the first half. But overall, he's one of the better singer-songwriters around. His covers of Elvis' "Suspicious Minds" and Peter Bjorn & John's "Young Folks" were stellar. B+

Peter Bjorn & John | Dell
To me, these guys had the most to prove. Like last year's Gnarls Barkley, they had to get beyond their ubiquitous single. And much like Gnarls Barkley, they passed with flying colors. B+

Joss Stone | AT&T
This was the one I was dragged to. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised. She had a band nearly as tight as Bob Dylan's, and boasted some of the best back-up singers of all-time. And, frankly, she looked amazing. And for once, her performance was as excellent as her voice. A-

M.I.A. | Dell
Yup, she's still overrated. Great beats, but that shrill voice is beyond annoying. Not Recommended

JJ Grey & Mofro | Austin Ventures
Bluesy-rock with and edge. Their entire set probably boasted an incredible energy. Recommended

LCD Soundsystem | AT&T Blue Room
Another band that tends to have amazing beats but no voice to carry it anywhere. Luckily, the songwriting has stepped up quite a bit with the release of Sound of Silver. Now they truly have created the thinking person's dance music. Recommended

Queens of the Stone Age | AMD
No banter with the audience. Just an hour of pure rockin'. And that was just fine with me. B+

Kaiser Chiefs | AT&T Blue Room
Na-na-na-na-na! What a rollickin' good time. Honing their best stuff, I wouldn't be surprise if they were better than Arctic Monkeys. B+

The Killers | AMD
I can't believe it's taken me this long to see them. Boy, do Brandon Flowers and co. know how to put on a show. Their stage presence is unrivaled by American bands. From opening withSam's Town's first three songs ("Sam's Town," "Enterlude," and "When You Were Young") to closing with "All These Things That I've Done," there was never a dull moment. Coming from Vegas, it's not surprising these guys are supreme entertainers. A

SATURDAY:
Paolo Nutini | AMD
Scottish songwriter Paolo Nutini violated a cardinal rule of performance: Never let a cover outshine your original tunes. And Mr. Nutini did it not once, but twice with his reggae-infused version of Moby's "Natural Blues" and freewheeling, party-like take on "I Wanna be Like You" from Disney's The Jungle Book. His originals, however, fell flat and tended to sound repetitive. B-

Cold War Kids | AT&T Blue Room
Adam was right, these guys ain't so good live. Not Recommended

Farmer Jason | Austin Kiddie Limits
If it's good enough for the kiddos, it's good enough for me. Recommended

St. Vincent | Austin Ventures
Never underestimate the power of a woman and her guitar. And looping effects. Though sparse with members, Annie Clark's lo-fi set was beyond impressive. And you have to dig anyone who rips off their guitar strings in frustration. A

Butch Walker & The Lets-Go-Out-Tonites | Austin Ventures
Talk about your good vibes. In a festival-stealing show (they pretty much blew everyone out of the water), the former Marvelous 3 frontman taught a masterclass in keeping the energy up and getting the crowd involved. His ridiculously catchy and clever power-pop was just the right fit for the onstage antics (including a hot pants-clad guy running out wearing a shirt stating he'd "Go Gay for Butch"). Mr. Walker even, shockingly, came out INTO the audience and posed for pictures with many a clamoring female. No one had more fun all weekend then those in that circle. A

Andrew Bird | AT&T Blue Room
Just when you think there are too many male singer-songwriters, Andrew Bird comes along to prove there's room for one more. Recommended

Zap Mama | Dell
Imagine the offspring of Lenny Kravitz and Sister Sledge. One head-banging, hip-swaying time. Recommended

Damien Rice | AT&T
Though he didn't have quite the energy on "Rootless Tree" that I hoped for, he certainly wasn't what I was afraid of: boring. The best of the singer-songwriters at the fest. B+

The Arcade Fire | AMD
There comes a moment in every music fan's life when a show comes along and changes your life. It's only happened once before when I saw the Flaming Lips in '03. Sometimes, though, it can happen again, and it certainly happened Saturday night. With actual neon bibles across the stage, it became evident this Montreal band had a gospel to preach, and it was one not everyone was used to hearing. But from the multi-instrumentalists and stage diving, and the neon lights and odd choices (hurdy-gurdy), it was also clear that this is a band that is staking its claim as the Best in the World, if it's not there already. A+

SUNDAY:
Ben Kweller | AT&T
Certainly more fun than other singer-songwriters, but also suffered from redundancy. But most acts would kill to close with the one-two punch of "Sundress" and "Penny on the Train Track." Plus, no bloody noses keeping him from performing!B+

Common | Dell
Easily one of the best rappers around, Common again proved he can upstage those who outsell him on a regular basis. His hip-hop medley (including "Paul Revere" and "Straight Outta Compton") was a show-stopper. B+

Midlake | Austin Ventures
I knew Denton was Dullsville, but I didn't know the music from there followed those same rules. Not Recommended

Bloc Party | AT&T
Other than the allergy attack that prevented me from enjoying the set fully, the British lads rocked it out. Few bands have such amazing riffs. A-

Rose Hill Drive | Austin Ventures
Proved that a modern band can still be classic rockers. Recommended

Regina Spektor | AT&T Blue Room
Not as utterly wonderful as when she opened for Keane, but still knows how to draw the audience with her simple ditties. She'll break your hea-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-art. Recommended

Amos Lee | Dell
The black Ray Lamontagne, but with stage presence. Recommended

My Morning Jacket | AT&T
I now HAVE to buy Okonokos after seeing this incredible set. I even dug the Hawaiian luau theme. So many great songs in an hour. Wow. A

The Decemberists | Dell
Colin Meloy and co. were occasionally boring but for the most part enjoyable. Gotta love the whole "Crane Wife" cycle. B+

Bob Dylan and His Band | AT&T
His band was tight and rivaled even Van Morrison's last year. Unfortunately, at 71 years old, his voice is complete gone, like he's been gargling gravel. This set was the musical equivalent of a wormy apple: the band was the rich outside, but Dylan's voice was rotten center. At least now I can say that I've seen a legend. But really, he needs to hang it up now. C

The Most Heinous Crime Committed in My Lifetime

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/11/woman.tortured/index.html

Truly, I can't think of anything more vile, inhumane, or flat-out evil that anyone has done. I can't believe this happened in 2007. I can't believe it happened, period. We should all be furious. I think they should all get the death penalty, or at the very least life in prison without the possibility of parole. No human, animal, or any other living thing should have gone through this. This is the worst thing to happen in America in my lifetime. I feel sorry for all humanity.

Sound Waves: Kanye West's 'Graduation'

ARTIST: Kanye West
ALBUM: Graduation
LABEL: Roc-a-Fella
GRADE: A-


So by now, you know of the biggest rap beef in ages. 50 Cent has stated that he'll retire from music forever if Kanye West's Graduation outsells his Curtis in the first week. As a music fan, it's imperative you buy Kanye's album for 2 reasons:

1) It'll force 50 Cent, the figurehead of all that's wrong with hip-hop music, out of the industry, leaving a hole for someone more creative to fill.
2) It's the best hip-hop record of the year.

Truly, the most talented rapper this decade could not be on more of a roll. His debut was the stuff of legend, and his follow-up is easily a finalist for Best Hip-Hop Album of All Time (at least in my book). Now, Mr. West is back, with album to leave all of his peers in the dust. While it's not quite the instant classic that Late Registration was, and there's no track that will leave you utterly stunned like "Through the Wire," it's still far more creative than just about any musician in any genre on this side of the Atlantic is making. And for all his brash cockiness ("I'm Dwayne Wayne meets Dwayne Wade/I'm Gnarls Barkley meets Charles Barkley), Kanye's got real MUSIC to back it all up. And no one in the hip-hop community is as bold as Kanye. Honestly, who else would have indie film composer produce his last album, and follow it up with samples from Daft Punk ("Stronger") and have Chris Martin of Coldplay guest on your album closer ("Homecoming")? Kanye's also eliminated skits entirely, further proof he's a forward-thinking artist. Overall, this is far and away the best hip-hop album of 2007, and a definite contender for the best album this year. Period.

The 5 Best Singles Out Right Now (as of 9/11/07)

1) Spoon
"The Underdog"
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge)


2) Kanye West
"Stronger"
Graduation (Roc-A-Fella)


3) Gym Class Heroes featuring Patrick Stump
"Clothes Off"
As Cruel As School Children (Fueled by Ramen)


4) KT Tunstall
"Hold On"
Drastic Fantastic (Virgin)


5) A Fine Frenzy
"Almost Lover"
One Cell in the Sea (Virgin)

Top 10 Massive, Unnecessary DVD Box Sets (Past & Present)

1. ESSENTIAL ART HOUSE: 50 YEARS OF JANUS FILMS ($850)
That's a lot of dough for a package that uses the term "essential" rather loosely.


2. GILMORE GIRLS: THE COMPLETE SERIES COLLECTION ($258.82)
5 minutes of this show is painful enough, why put it all together in a closet-like box? Oh, that's right. Girls like it.


3. THE BRADY BUNCH: THE COMPLETE SERIES ($129.99)
What good is this? The shag carpeting prevents you from using it as a blunt object.


4. SIX FEET UNDER: THE COMPLETE SERIES GIFT SET ($279.98)
You'll want to be like the title after lugging this pretentious set around.


5. FULL HOUSE: THE COMPLETE SERIES COLLECTION ($169.98)
Head for the hills! It's the worst show ever coming to you direct from San Francisco! It's the Tanners in 3-D! It's horrifying!


6. MacGYVER: THE COMPLETE SERIES ($170.99)
At least you don't have to put it together yourself.


7. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE COMPLETE EPIC SERIES ($59.98)
Cheesy in all the wrong ways, and in cheap tin shaped like a robot's head. Abort mission!


7. UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS: COLLECTOR'S EDITION MEGASET ($249.95)
Not even the biggest British telly devotee could handle this. Blimey!


8. THE X-FILES: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION ($329.98)
Keep looking, the truth ain't in here.


9. HOMICIDE--LIFE ON THE STREET: COMPLETE SERIES MEGASET (N/A)
OK, so it's probably the greatest cop series ever, but putting it in a filing cabinet (seriously) is the equivalent of getting hassled by Internal Affairs.

The Lookout: 30 Movies to Get Excited about This Fall

1. 3:10 TO YUMA (Sept. 7)
Christian Bale and Russell Crowe go toe-to-toe in this Western remake.
2. THE HUNTING PARTY (Sept. 7)
Journalists Richard Gere and Terrence Howard become targets in a Bosnian conflict while following a story.
3. SHOOT 'EM UP (Sept. 7)
Paul Giamatti and Clive Owen. And lots of guns. 'Nuff said.
4. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (Sept. 14)
Visual master Julie Taymor brings her mind-blowing touch to this musical made entirely of Beatles songs.
5. THE BRAVE ONE (Sept. 14)
Jodie Foster goes deep into ass-kicking revenge mode after her lover is murdered.
6. EASTERN PROMISES (Sept. 14)
David Cronenberg's ultra-violent take on the Russian mob.
7. IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH (Sept. 14)
Tommy Lee Jones searches for his son, a missing-in-action soldier, in this year's Best Picture front-runner.
8. THE KINGDOM (Sept. 28)
Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, and Chris Cooper investigate a terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia. This is without a doubt the year's best film.
9. LAKE OF FIRE (Oct. 3)
No stranger to controversy himself, AMERICAN HISTORY X's Tony Kaye directs this documentary on the abortion issue.
10. GRACE IS GONE (Oct. 5)
The vastly underrated John Cusack goes for Oscar gold as a dad who can't bring himself to let his daughters know that their mother has been killed in Iraq.
11. MICHAEL CLAYTON (Oct. 5)
George Clooney is also a Best Actor front-runner as a scheming lawyer whose life unravels.
12. CONTROL (Oct. 10)
Music video director Anton Corbijn makes his feature debut with a biopic on Joy Division singer Ian Curtis.
13. ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE (Oct. 12)
The most pedigreed movie of the year (odd for a sequel) sees Cate Blanchett, the greatest actress on the planet, reprising her role as the great Queen.
14. FAT GIRLS (Oct. 19)
Rowlett High School graduate Ash Christian directs this coming-of-age tale about a gay teen and his portly best friend.
15. GONE BABY GONE (Oct. 19)
Ben Affleck steps behind the camera to adapt MYSTIC RIVER author Dennis Lahane's novel about an abduction investigation gone awry.
16. RESERVATION ROAD (Oct. 19)
The aftermath of a car accident connects Mark Ruffalo, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jennifer Connelly.
17. RUN, FATBOY, RUN (Oct. 26)
Simon Pegg tries to woo Thandie Newton by entering a marathon. We'll see how that goes.
18. AMERICAN GANGSTER (Nov. 2)
Russell Crowe is hot on the trail of mob boss Denzel Washington in Ridley Scott's return to form. You know you're SO there.
19. JOE STRUMMER: THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN (Nov. 2)
Acclaimed doc follows one of punk rock's godfathers.
20. LIONS FOR LAMBS (Nov. 9)
Robert Redford directs and stars in this anti-war drama. If he can let the powerful acting override the Important with a Capital I message, he might just have something.
21. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (Nov. 9)
The Coens go dark for the first time in years, adapting Cormac McCarthy's novel about a chilling killer (Javier Bardem) who terrorizes a small Texas town.
22. SOUTHLAND TALES (Nov. 9)
Richard Kelly's oft-delayed follow-up to DONNIE DARKO is bound to be misunderstood, and probably brilliant. The Rock, Seann William Scott, and Sarah Michelle Gellar star as people whose lives intersect in L.A. on the eve of apocalypse.
23. I'M NOT THERE (Nov. 21)
Todd Haynes, known for visual stylishness but not subtlety, directs this quasi-biopic about Bob Dylan.
24. STEPHEN KING'S THE MIST (Nov. 21)
Stephen King's two best adaptations have come from Frank Darabont (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, THE GREEN MILE). We'll see if the third time's the charm as supermarket customers hide from an incoming fog.
25. I AM LEGEND (Dec. 14)
Will Smith is the last person on earth (or is he?) in this remake of THE OMEGA MAN.
26. SWEENEY TODD (Dec. 21)
Tim Burton directs his muses Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in the first big screen adaptation of the classic musical.
27. WALK HARD (Dec. 21)
Musical biopics get the send-up they deserve thanks to Judd Apatow and John C. Reilly.
28. CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR (Christmas Day)
Aaron Sorkin writes this partially true of a Texas oilman (Tom Hanks) who gets mixed up in a Middle Eastern invasion plot.
29. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (Dec. 26)
P.T. Anderson gets a little serious for a minute to adapt Upton Sinclair's novel about greed and oil.
30. THE DARJEELING LIMITED (TBD)
Wes Anderson is back in this road picture starring brothers Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, and Owen Wilson. At this point, you either love or hate Andersonian whimsy. But who can resist that cast?