Music Writing: Millions of Brazilians; Record Review: Majesty Crush

This week's Metro Times has two things by me - an article about local rock music sensations Millions of Brazilians, and a review of the new Majesty Crush best of compilation. Majesty Crush was my first favorite local band - hell, they were one of my favorite bands anywhere back in the day. So I was excited when this compilation came to my attention. Also, the boys from Millions of Brazilions do not say the word "awesome" a lot. Don't believe the rumors. They WILL however be playing a sure-to-be-stellar set at Blowout next week. Majesty Crush will not -though I will keep dreaming of a reunion show.

Record Review: Dark Was the Night

Back in the olden days of indie yore, there were a handful of labels I counted on to get me through my formative years. Chief amongst them was 4AD. Pixies, Pale Saints, Wolfgang Press, Red House Painters, This Mortal Coil, Lisa Germano, Dead Can Dance, Insides (look that shit up - I STILL love that record even if it sounds a wee dated), Lush... so, so many bands I loved. It's been awhile since the folks at 4AD have made me swoon, though a handful of recent and upcoming releases is making me consider taking them back. If Ivo Watts-Russell sends flowers. And Bon Iver and that cute little boy from Beirut start periodically showing up at my house in the middle of the night to serenade me with a spooky love song (ukulele optional). So we'll see.

The biggest reason for my change of heart though, is the recent benefit compilation Dark Was the Night - have you heard of this? Of course you have: you've been hearing about it and hearing about it! It is as good as you've been hearing. Have you also heard of this "AIDS virus" that the sale of said compilation is raising money for? It's very serious. The Red Hot Organization does good work, and this compilation is actually worth you spending real dollars on. Tiny Mix Tapes has my review.

Wonder Twins Review: ETC's Detroit Unplugged II @ PJ's Lager House Saturday Feb. 7th

Were you "out on the town" (as they say) last Saturday evening? You could've been at one of seemingly dozens (hundreds) of events/shows/strip club novelty nights that were scheduled for that very same evening. You may even be young and full of energy -enough to allow you to actually go to TWO or MORE events that night. That would maximize your ability to get your picture in Real Detroit's or The Metro Times' nearly identical "Look, I'm drunk and standing next to a bartender with big hoots that I am delusional in thinking will go home with me" VIP photo sections! Although my attendance at only one event that night lessens my chances for big hoots photo fame, I WAS able to get D'Anne out to yet another show in a fairly short time span! I am going to try my best to get her to go with me to at least ONE show a MONTH (whoa!) until her wife has a baby and then I'll never ever get her out of the house until the baby is old enough to make demands and be a pest. Then she'll be BEGGING me to take her to shows! And I'll be like, "Bitch, you don't get a SAY in this shit - we're going to see some pretentious arty noise rock and you're gonna LOVE it!" Mark my words - and look for our Prurient reunion show review in a few years. EatThisCity.com's "Detroit Unplugged II" was super fun. Read about it here on the Music Blahg.

Record Review: Buschovski

"I was living in a devil town. Didn't know it was a devil town..."

I just watched the excellent documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston the other night, and although I had heard "Devil Town" before, hearing the song in the movie made me think of Charlotte, North Carolina where I lived for about 4 years before coming home to Detroit last February. Though it might be a bit of a stretch to call Charlotte a "devil town," it was pretty clear to me the entire time I was there I wasn't meant to stay. Coming home to Detroit was exactly what I was supposed to do, and I could not be happier, despite the harsh winter cold and the lack of people saying, "all y'all." One of the very few things I actually miss about Charlotte, is the band Buschovski. They're for serious one of the best bands I've seen or heard anywhere. At the very end of December 2008 they finished their debut album. I got it too late to put it on my year end list, but I assure you, it would have easily made it. Tiny Mix Tapes has my review, which you should read. Then I highly suggest you trust your instincts and pick it up - you won't be sorry.

Music Writing: Prussia

Brrr! Are you frozen? If you are a boy, have you already said, "I'm freezing my nuts off!" at least once today? I've noticed that boys are very into drawing attention to their areas when it is very cold or very hot outside. I am an expert on boys.

Speaking of boys, some of my favorites in Detroit are those that make up the band Prussia. Apparently there are now girls in the Prussia mix, but until I actually SEE them in PERSON, I will refuse to mentally acknowledge this fact. Today's Metro Times has an article I wrote about Prussia. Please do read it. Prussia just put out a great new EP called Blessed Be, Yours Truly In Spirit & Soul which is for free. They also have a release show this Saturday at the Pike Room with some other fantastic bands - Silent Years, Wildcatting Javelins... and THAT is free as well. Are you shaking your head in disbelief? Good. I wish more people did that. But are you also thinking, "But wait! The EatThisCity presents Detroit Unplugged II show at PJ's Lager House is the very same evening? What should I do?!" Well, join the club and I am sorry your life is so hard.

Also, a big thank you to Jeff Milo of Deep Cutz for mentioning my writing kindly in a recent Model D article. You're nice for serious. You also are the reason I want to invent the "e bookmark." I mean this as a compliment.