secret knowledge of backroads.

My Stomping Grounds In:
The H Street Corridor / The Atlas District

Since speaking about Rock & Roll Hotel in my summer "nightowl" post, I have decided to expand and talk about a section of DC that I've been frequenting quite a bit.

H street NE is an up-and-coming area of DC. Once a bustling part of the city, the H Street District suffered setbacks following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the ensuing race riots of 1968. Recently, the area has been revitalizing and focusing on the arts & entertainment sector. Named after the famous Atlas Theater, the Atlas District boasts a number of hotspots. The area is a lot easier to access using public transportation following the recent addition of a free H Street Shuttle. It travels a convenient route between the Chinatown and Minnesota Ave metro stations. There is also the option of the X2 metro bus, or as always a trusty (and more costly) cab ride.

Besides Rock & Roll, my most frequented H Street venue is Sticky Rice. In fact, it is a lot like a second home. Foremost, the staff are wonderful and accommodating. I now consider many of them friends. The food is delectable and fairly inexpensive. They boast sushi and tater tots and they now have delicious brunch! After dinner, Sticky turns into a boisterous nightspot with a great atmosphere and a gong. Tuesdays are karaoke night hosted by the talented Andrew Herndon, Wednesdays are BLINGO hosted by the elusive Russell, and the weekends bring DJs, dancing, and trivia. Sticky Rice is the total package for a restaurant/bar establishment. Check out all the deets at http://www.stickyricedc.com.

Another restaurant in the area that I thoroughly enjoy is Dr. Granville Moore's Brickyard. This gastropub is meant to be a bit grimy, but the food is totally worth it. I am not a beer drinker, but all my friends rave that the offering of over 50 beers is spectacular. The Belgian fare is delicious and the low-key environment is relaxing and welcoming. I would highly recommend mussles, frites, and a brownie for dessert! More info at http://www.granvillemoores.com.

listen to me! i'm on the stereo, stereo.

I have made mixes for quite a few people in between this and "The Mixed Tape" post, but I particularly want to share the one I put together for my bandmates. [We're indie/shoegazey, I'm the singer, we don't have a name yet, and I will definitely give more details when we do...] Anyway, this mix cd was meant to inspire songwriting, to help with band bonding, and to show some of the songs that I've been loving. Here it is:

1. starrsha- ringo deathstarr
2. sixteen- skywave
3. 23- blonde redhead
4. bled white- elliott smith
5. blue jeans*- blur
6. the drowners- suede
7. blasphemy- miracle fortress
8. all things ordinary- the anniversary
9. everything's alright when you're down-
the jesus & mary chain
10. stereo- pavement
11. angry mulch- voxtrot
12. summer babe- pavement
13. welcome to new jersey- the glands
14. center of the universe- built to spill
15. the only moment we were alone- explosions in the sky

* "Blue Jeans" shows up on basically every mix I make because it's just that meaningful. I also repeated "Summer Babe" because it's a pretty solid example of a song I'd like to emulate.

i had a name. i let it leave me.

[I haven't written extensively about Voxtrot because they have been in some sort of limbo since I started this blog. They are one of my favorite bands, but I have not heard the real deal on why things are on hold. I have my ideas, but I can't stop hoping that they'll get it together and start work on a new album. Regardless, they are worth talking about and I won't put it off any longer.]

For the past few years I have been into Voxtrot, an Austin-based indie band. I stumbled into them on Myspace, took in a few shows, and have been obsessed ever since. I don't want to get into a lot of background in this post, but I will say that each of their EPs is worth listening to for different reasons.

Often times it is telling to listen to a band's rare or unreleased tracks. Lately, I have been favoring "The Warmest Part of the Winter" because it highlights Ramesh Srivastava's tender vocals, a slide guitar line, and introspective lyrics. There is a melancholy tone in the melody giving a sobering view on love. When Voxtrot recorded their full length album, I think they lost touch with some of the simplicity found in this song.



I would also recommend "Angry Mulch" and "They Never Mean What They Say," though MP3s are hard to come by at this point.

my president is black, my lambo's blue.

Young Jeezy - "My President"


Nas - "Black President"


P.S. Do you think Pac cares that Nas sampled him when it's a matter of civil rights? I feel he'll be watching from the sky tomorrow and loving it all. Holler if you see me at the inauguration!

they call you sentimental.

In my previous post I mentioned that I've been listening to a lot of The Glands. As with many of this fall's discoveries, they came to me in a 14-disk package sent by a west coast enigma. Introducing me to The Glands was a good choice because they have sucked me in. I have trouble explaining why I love them so much, I think because I feel an emotional connection to the songs. They hit me in a reminiscent way as though I've been hearing them for years and am revisiting the story. Lyrics which may seem simple have an eloquence and elegance in execution. Musically, they benefit from many unique influences and are a bit Guided By Voices or Pavement-esque. I have heard them described as "high-quality '90s college radio fare" and I can't say that I disagree.

My question is why this band never achieved greater recognition or even a cult following. Reading articles about them from the late 90's and early 2000's, it seems like the journalists put The Glands as being poised for success. Their self-titled sophomore album (2000) was hailed as "...an indie-rock masterpiece" (9 of 10 rating) by Spin Magazine. Today that is juxtaposed with the same record being on a list of "the best indie albums no one's ever heard." No one really knows if they broke up, and there is a cloud of mystery surrounding their period of silence. There is also a third album in limbo due to a rumored squabble with the Capricorn label. Ultimately, I want to disseminate information on The Glands because I believe in them at a high level. With the right marketing, or a few years later, this band could have blown up. I sincerely hope that they have more to bring to the table.

The following are snippets of my most highly recommended songs:

• Fortress by The Glands
• Welcome To New Jersey by The Glands
• Skin by The Glands
• When I Laugh by The Glands

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and everything is going to the beat.

This cold and dreary winter I have had trouble locating my normal and healthy amount of musical inspiration. It's been more difficult to find a song that can both calm me down and hype me up. Instead I have been huddled under the covers with 23 (2007) by Blonde Redhead, The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003) by Explosions in the Sky, and various lyrical lo-fi tracks by The Glands. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, I need something with more pep. I need something that suits blustery, yet helps me forget my blues.

Passion Pit are quickly filling the void with their addictive melodies and electronic charm. They mix layers of mellow with hyper synth and falsetto vocals. "Sleepyhead" is my favorite so far- it's in a commercial, but who cares. It's been stuck in my head for three days straight. "Live to Tell the Tale" is also highly recommended, with its tender vocals and dreamy synths.

she's so lackadaisical, should have been a west coast bride.

& my love for Pavement.

Yesterday I practiced with my friend's band and we covered "Cut Your Hair" (1994) by Pavement. It got me thinking about how they are still and indie rock cult classic nearly a decade after they disbanded. Beyond that, they are one of my favorite bands ever.

Why?
1. The impeccable, if often nonsensical, lyrics (i.e. "Lip balm on watery clay/ Relationships hey, hey hey.")
2. Stephen Malkmus's voice. With its unique timbre, imperfect pitch, and natural emotiveness, Malkmus carries the words without it ever seeming like he's trying too hard.
3. Talented Musicians. They have the ability to accentuate the tone and intent of each song. This includes a full range of guitar sounds and the always appropriate and complimentary percussion.
4. Their laid-back west coast cool.
5. The fact that they stayed on an indie label through their whole career.

Usually I am highly against the idea of any of my favorite bands getting back together because I think it ruins things. I am probably one of the only people who doesn't want to see a Smiths reunion. But I predict that Pavement will eventually reunite in some capacity and be just as cool as they always were. [And if you like prog rock feel free to check out Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks].

Links:
"Cut Your Hair"-

"Summer Babe" Live-