Private Affair

The Virgins have officially landed. It's new music Tuesday and what can make me smile more than Weezer's Red Album? Much more than knowing that the countdown to Coldplay and the Carter 3 are incrementally shorter? A self-titled, FULL LENGTH debut from NY-based, indie punk rock-revivalists The Virgins. It's been nearly a year since their five song EP smashed onto my iPod with nothing short of a Nancy Sinatra-type Bang Bang. It took about 72 hours for "One Week of Danger" to skyrocket to a respectable spot on my 50 Most Played Tracks, and even less to secure the Virgins a spot on UAFT's Best Songs of 2007.

So why is my smile so short lived? Because the vice that is capitalism/corporate record production has tightened its grip on this once-raw, rag-tag group. Obvious in reworked versions of fan-favorites like "Rich Girls," is a newly polished, very studio sound that has some us crying Wolf - or WTF! Proof that you can certainly take the street out of street rockers once said rockers make the move from the streets to the penthouse. (Insert Jefferson's Theme Here) This album, though still fully-entertaining, has left me wondering what happened to those badass boys whose most well-known song takes a lyrical stab at the wealthy. Choking on irony much?

Nick, Wade, etc. I love you, but step away from the studio. Your raw instrumentation and slinky vocals are much more sexy than whatever I'm hearing Atlantic produce. Keep your recordings a private affair. And don't make me nostalgic for an indie EP after only one release...

The Virgins - One Week of Danger [ysi]
The Virgins - Rich Girls [ysi]
The Virgins - Private Affair [ysi]

The Virgins - One Week of Danger (EP Version) [ysi]
The Virgins - Rich Girls (EP Version) [ysi]

Listen. Compare. Complain. Or not.

Marriage Proposal # 137: James Mercer

The Shins were all over the critic's best lists this year - and rightly so. Wincing the Night Away was top notch indie pop. Lead singer James Mercer has been on my radar for a long time now. Oh, Inverted World is amazing, but it wasn't until I heard the beautiful vocals of "Pink Bullets" (off 2003's Chutes Too Narrow) that I was truly hooked. Zach Braff really put the band on the map by including Shins tracks "Caring is Creepy" and "New Slang" on the infamous indie soundtrack to his film, Garden State. They couldn't have been more appropriately poignant in the soul-searching story.

Despite a slew of amazing credentials, my favorite Mercer showcase to date was his 2004 in-studio performance on Portland's radio show "Station to Station." Not only is he unbelievably kind and personable, but his vocals sound even more amazing live and stripped. I know its my 137th proposal to date, but James Mercer, will you marry me?

James Mercer - Caring is Creepy (Live on Station to Station)

James Mercer - Young Pilgrims (Live on Station to Station)

James Mercer - Pink Bullets (Live on Station to Station)

My Desktop Wallpaper (James is the joyous one, second from left)

PS. I just bought my tix for The Virgins show at the Glass House in Pomona. March 8 can't come soon enough! My devious plan to meet the band includes dressing like a complete slut and hanging around their tour bus after the set with some sort of alcoholic beverage or contraband. The Glass House is such a small venue that artists kick it right outside afterwards. Maybe if I flash one of them they'll grace me with a pic or short interview. I have no reservations in that case.

Speaking of concerts I would like to extend an invitation to anyone in SoCal this semester - there are so many amazing bands coming to the GH. Rogue Wave will take the stage tomorrow and The Blakes on Thursday (crying because I can't go), but I'm looking for peeps who might want to see Pinback (Thursday, Feb 7), Nada Surf (Friday, March 21), Built to Spill (Saturday, March 22), or Tokyo Police Club (Tuesday, March 25). All shows are very reasonably priced and should be amazing!

Check out the full schedule and tix information HERE