The Dead Part of You

I'm still pretty busy at work this month but there were two anticipated records that came out this week:

Since "Will You Find Me", Ida's records have just been all peaks and valleys for me - two or three absolutely amazing songs, and then a bunch of filler. Of course, Ida's filler is still pretty darn good. The new record kind of returns to the feel of their earlier records - every song is a solid 3 or 4 stars. Nothing jumps out and says "Listen to me over and over again and cry". Nothing jumps out and says "Skip to the good song". I'm really happy with it - a little too "folk-pop" and not enough "sadcore", but what a great consistent, solid collection.



The most over-hyped record of the year. Absolutely shitty generic indie rock [Pitchfork is lying to you] that borders on crappy Paul Simonish adult contemporary. Maybe I will change my mind someday, but probably not for a few years at least.

So one of those Cal Robbins benefit things has finally hit Boston. Actually, Saturday's line up is pretty amazing.

• I saw Drew O'Doherty last winter open for Mark Eitzel, bought the record, and he's a second coming of Richard Buckner with better hair.
• And The Secret Stars? I don't claim to know their deal, but I thought they had broken up [not even a Wiki].
• I'm pretty sure Mark Robinson [Unrest] lives around here now, and doesn't play out nearly as much as he should.
• Headlining is Ida, who I haven't seen in ages.

So all should be perfect, right?

Does anyone else think it's weird that we're raising money for an individual and not a cause? It's been freaking me out for months now. I mean, I work with someone who's kid is also affected by this disease, and no indie bands are reuniting and putting compilations together to give her money to help pay for everything insurance doesn't cover. OK!OK! I'm trying not to be bitter, I'm glad SMA awareness has been raised among the indie kids, I'm trying to look forward to a larger picture where these events start benefiting the whole instead of the individual.

That said, I'm totally going. I'm leaving my attitude at home that evening. I'm gonna get sadcore cause it's a totally righteous bill.

[that's not about you Cal, it's about me]