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Brian Phillips Bio

WSU Cougar, Northwesterner, Beer Drinker, Husbander, Father, Coacher, Reader, Listener, Writer, Editor, Crumudgeoner, Stinker, Eater, Itcher, Watcher

myProfile

Home Town:
Port Angeles, WA
Favorite Sport:
Baseball
Favorite Band:
The Replacements
Major:
Communications. Yeah I know.. bonehead major

recentPosts

  • 0

    Stooges Guitar Player Found Dead

    2009-01-06 10:02:54

    Looks like a heart attack. Punk rock wouldn't exist without The Stooges people.They were they real deal. I can't imagine them continuing after this.

  • 0

    Is Music The Meal Or Dessert?

    2009-01-06 09:52:57

    Sometimes when I'm listening to music I start wondering why I listen to music. The easy answer of course is the same as yours. "I love music, it makes me feel good." The more difficult question to answer is why. The above piece from The Economist of all publications tries to explain.

  • 0

    Bri Blahg... The Arrogance Of The Year End List... Part 4

    2008-12-23 12:26:03

    From the mail bag.

    Dear Blahg,

    Please end "Best Of 2008" before 2010.

    Yours,

    The Management

    It is time to bring it home. Christmas is coming, The NFL playoffs are coming. Let's do this.

    To review, here are the albums I've larded with praise thus far. Again, there is no order to this thing. It ain't the BCS.

    Jenny Lewis "Acid Tounge"

    She & Him

    The Gutter Twins

    Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell "Sunday At The Devil Dirt"

    Deerhunter "Microcastle"

    Atlas Sound "Letting The Blind Lead..... etc"

    No Age "Nouns"

    Abe Vigoda "Skeleton"

    Fleet Foxes

    Blitzen Trapper "Furr"

    Okkervil River "Stand Ins"

    Here's some others not to be missed:

    Portishead "Third"

    This album was 11 years in the making and I was afraid that Portishead wouldn't be able to match the dark intensity of their 90's work. I was wrong. In fact they ditched the scratching and replaced it with dark stabs of post punk guitar. "Third" is my favorite Portishead record.

    The Roots "Rising Down"

    You may have heard the rumor that The Roots are going to be Jimmy Fallon's house band when his show launches next year. That sounded like horse hockey to me, but I've since heard it's true. Hopefully they won't quit making records. "Rising Down" puts to shame an increasingly bankrupt genre.

    Ryan Adams & The Cardinals "Cardinology"

    Adams' prolific output often overshadows the records. Ususally that's because they're hit and miss affairs. "Cardinology" is his best in quite some time.

    Frightened Rabbit "The Midnight Organ Fight"

    A Scottish band who's sound is probably more at home in Ireland. Big, passionate, but never bombastic or over cooked.

    The Black Keys "Attack & Release"

    I love the story behind this project. Danger Mouse and the Keys were developing material with the notorious Ike Turner, but the project never went anywhere. Then Ike died. The Akron duo and Mouse folded what they were doing into a great record. The Black Keys were ready to expand on their rust belt delta blues and succeeded wildly.

    Annuals "Such Fun"

    Maybe it's just me, but there seems to have been a bit of a backlash against this gifted young Raleigh band. This is a gorgeous album, and I think even better than their startling debut "Brother." Keep an eye on Annuals.

    Melvins "Nude With Boots"

    Back in the Nirvana signing frenzy, Melvins were swept up by Atlantic. Kurt Kobain even produced their first major label record "Houdini." If there is anyone left at Atlantic from those days, they would shake their head upon hearing "Nude With Boots." This is the album I'm sure they tried to get Melvins to make back then. Big giant monster truck hooks abound on this one. It works by God.

    The Black Angels "Directions To See A Ghost"

    Music like this is an easy sell for me. Pulsing, swirling guitars, a throbbing heartbeat, cave drawing lyrics. The Black Angels believe that a little loud and some echo are just half measures. I agree!

    Jessica Lea Mayfield "With A Blasphemy So Heartfelt"

    Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys produced this low key gem and did so with great taste and restraint. The Kent, Ohio 19 year old's voice is so sad. "The world is moving so fast but I'm hardly moving at all" she sings. Someone this young probably shouldn't sound so defeated. All that said, this is a brilliant record and I can't wait to hear more.

    It's hard to end one of these because I'm sure there's a record I've forgotten. Maybe "Chinese Democracy" will suddenly make sense to me or something. I'll let you know.

Brian's last-5