All Points West: Friday

"It is now the witching hour..."

You know the difference between Radiohead and other bands equally long in the tooth? Radiohead can still bring it. More specifically though, what other band has been around so long and can play every song but one off their new (7th) studio album, and not just get away with it, but fucking rock it? Well that's exactly what happened Friday night at conveniently located All Points West Festival. And you know how eco-friendly cars are great for the environment, but kind of suck? Well Radiohead's lighting system uses solar charged batteries that use 1/4 the amps of similar systems (the better to reduce their carbon footprint, my dear), and it was still the best light show I've ever seen. Clearly these guys have a few things figured out.

Another reason why this show was unbelievable? Setlist highlights were not what I would have guessed (and I saw them just 2 months ago), even with typical standouts "Idioteque" and "There There" on the bill. "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" got the whole crowd bouncing, glitchy Hail to the Thief track "The Gloaming", which has been refitted with jumpy new drum and bass sections, surprised the hell out of everyone (see the shitty vid below, but you get the idea), and "You and Whose Army?" was accompanied by some black and white camera right in Thom Yorke's face (better than it sounds). And yes, okay, Idioteque was fucking sweet.
"Lucky" @ All Points West 8/8/08






....Aaaaand did I mention Grizzly Bear and Andrew Bird? Both wowed in different ways... while Grizzly Bear were more of the "That band sounds really great" variety, Andrew Bird was more a "Holy shit that guy's talent is goddamn intimidating". Both played some songs off their recent albums (Yellow House and Armchair Apochrypha, respectively), as well as excellent new stuff slated for release later this year. Of course I'm referring to everyone's new favorite Grizz song "Two Weeks", which you can watch below. No Doveman with the arpeggios on this one, but it's fantastic all the same...


Extremely awesome photo of Thom by baonguyen.

go now: There Will Be Blood

"Oil!"

I had given Johnny Greenwood's score to There Will Be Blood a few digital spins and knew it was good, but it wasn't until tonight when I saw the film that it truly hit me. While the movie left 2/3 of the Bobka speechless, literally, Greenwood's score had us sneering some sinister "I've struck it big and will destroy anyone or anything that gets in my way" smile all the way back to Jersey. Entertainment Weekly recently had an interview with the film's director, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Greenwood, where Anderson noted that "The whole opening 20 minutes was meant to be silent." Without Greenwood's unsettling, often nihilistic, string arrangements the opening scenes of this incredible film would be lost in a haze of dirty desert sage. With the score you are transported into the menacing mind of a broke down prospector traversing the wicked desert in search of the unattainable American dream, to strike it rich.

Fans of Radiohead and Anderson's work (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love) may want to check out the above mentioned interview HERE. I know it's not playing in many theaters yet but if you are in the New York area you can catch a showing at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square or at the BAM theater in Brooklyn. Buy the Soundtrack HERE. If you haven't seen it yet, the theatrical trailer is below. No doubt about it, if this film doesn't win best score, best picture, best actor (Daniel Day- Lewis), best supporting actor (Paul Dano) and best screen adaptation than something is seriously wrong with the world.




There Will Be Blood