Covering the crossroads of music and film.
IT'S LIKE THAT
IT'S LIKE THAT: Goodbye
By Jim Shearer on 05/01/2009
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THAT
Two summers ago I was tempted into playing a game of street ball. It actually didn't take much convincing--the sound of a basketball bouncing off the pavement was enough to lure me in. MORE »
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IT'S LIKE THAT: Here's To "The Sag"
By Jim Shearer on 04/20/2009
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THAT
Just the other day while I was taking the subway downtown, I noticed a teenager wearing a pair of jeans (purposely) drooped down to his kneecaps. It caught my attention, because he was also wearing a long, baggy shirt, which made it look like he had a really loooonnnggg torso. Even if this kid pulled up his pants, I doubt his drawers could've reached his waist. MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Eulogy For the Virgin Megastore
By Jim Shearer on 04/15/2009
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THAT
Losing a record store is a difficult thing to go through, even ones founded by an eccentric billionaire. Yes, the Virgin Megastore lacked the ma-and-pa charm of an independent record store (if you couldn't tell from the latter part of its name)--the ones operated by college drop-outs, who know everything about anything and diligently hand-print band names on every CD placard in the shop. But, the Virgin Megastore never pretended to be a consumer electronics and appliance retailer masquerading as a place to get new music. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Virgin Megastore never wrote up the price... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Where Do You See Yourself In 10 Years?
By Jim Shearer on 04/02/2009
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATTen years ago this month I made my maiden voyage to New York City. My friend and I boarded a Greyhound bus in Pittsburgh, and some nine-and-a-half hours later--around midnight--found ourselves in the heart of Times Square. We then loitered around for the next four hours, waiting to receive word on when and where we should line up. MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Checkin' Back In With Check Your Head
By Jim Shearer on 03/30/2009
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THAT
Today, as promised on the landing page of the Beastie Boys' website, they'll be releasing the Collector's Edition of their 1992 album, Check Your Head--featuring digitally re-mastered tracks, as well as bevy of b-sides and rarities. Apparently the Beasties couldn't wait three years to give Check Your Head a proper 20th Anniversary party, like they did for Paul's Boutique earlier this year. And though the third official LP from the Beastie's catalog may have some thunder stolen from an Ill Communication re-issue and a new studio album supposedly dropping later this year, I think it's important to point out that... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Bands With the Same Name
By Jim Shearer on 02/25/2009
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THAT
A couple weeks ago--without much fanfare or explanation--Santogold changed her stage name to Santigold. Turns out the performer Santo Gold filed an injunction last year to keep the name all for himself. I'm not sure if the case went to court, or if Santigold just didn't want to deal with the hassle. Long story short, Santo Gold got his wish and is now the only Santo Gold on the block. (Don't worry, I don't know who he is either.) MORE »
Sports Are Gayer Than You Think
By Jim Shearer on 02/19/2009
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THAT
Besides tinkering in independent music blogs, I'm also a big fan of ice hockey. This week I attended my third Pittsburgh Penguins away game of the season. The Pens--as we like to call them in Pittsburgh--are my favorite hockey team, and living here in New York City puts me smack dab in the middle of enemy territory, with the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, and New York Islanders all playing nearby. And if I'm really feeling the hockey fever, I'm also just a 2-hour bus ride away from Philly (speaking of enemy territory). MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Grammy's Highs & Lows
By Jim Shearer on 02/09/2009
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THAT
Alrighty, so the 51st Grammy Awards are in the books, and fittingly--because it seems like the veterans always get a little extra love at the Grammys--Robert Plant and Alison Kraus took home the crown jewel award of the evening, Album of The Year, for Raising Sand. MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Extreme Karaoke!
By Jim Shearer on 01/14/2009
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATEvery year for my wife's birthday we throw her a huge karaoke tournament. Each year it gets bigger, badder, and more competitive. Think of it as the illegal cock-fighting circuit of karaoke--no fancy lighting system, no prompter to read lyrics off of, and no gratuitous applause from the audience. If you stink, the three judges will let you know it. Sound a little like American Idol? Too bad our karaoke tournament predates the teen-pop franchise by two years. (left: This is what it's all about, the coveted Karaoke Cup.) Here's how the tournament is set up: There are three... MORE »
2008...Never Say Never
By Jim Shearer on 12/30/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATIronically, Metallica released a single in 2008 called "The Day That Never Comes." (left: Oh the memories of '08.) But in many ways, 2008 was "The Day That Did Come," even for the band mentioned above, who released a back-to-form album, Death Magnetic, which included 8-minute songs, guitar solos, and the return of the old Metallica logo (surfaces of high school desks beware). For those who have ever uttered the word "never," 2008 was a year for them to eat their words:... MORE »
'08 WAS GREAT!: Lil' Wayne, Artist of the Year?
By Jim Shearer on 12/26/2008
Filed under: '08 WAS GREAT!, IT'S LIKE THATLet me begin by saying that I like Lil' Wayne. I've met Lil' Wayne, and, yes, he's a very friendly guy. He's got a magnetic personality, and his demeanor alone could sell a few thousand albums. That being said, it still zaps my mind (much like that vein tattoo on Lil' Wayne's forehead) that he became music's most praised star in 2008. And we're not just talking about Dwayne Carter getting fist pounds from fellow hip-hoppers. He was loved by the pop set, mainstream music lovers, and even--no lie--the indie elite. (A certain Chicago emcee/producer is secretly wiping his... MORE »
TV On The Radio, Best of 2008?
By Jim Shearer on 12/15/2008
Filed under: HODGEPODGE, IT'S LIKE THATLots of people love the month of December. This is the magical time of year for them to partake in the joys of drinking eggnog, singing holiday tunes, and shopping until they're physically unable to walk anymore (yes, believe it or not, some people do find joy in this). Music critics love the month of December--maybe not so much for the reasons mentioned above--but because this is the time of year for them to release their Top-10 (20,30,40, 50, whatever) albums of the year list. I always find it a tad unbelievable when a handful of music outlets share... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Songs with St-St-Stutters
By Jim Shearer on 12/12/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THAT, LISTSBritney Spears' name is not one we bring up often here on the Indie Ear, but I'm not going to lie to you, it does happen from time to time. So if you're against such things, go to your other 5,000 favorite indie music blogs and catch up on all of your favorite redundantly named bands. Anyway, here goes: Right now, I'm going to tell you why I like Britney Spears' current single, "Womanizer" (and before you throw stones, just to listen to me for a second). I like the song, because, it gave me an epiphany. You heard... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: The Power of the Package
By Jim Shearer on 12/05/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATIn an age where some bands don't even have album artwork anymore, while others are releasing their albums in eco-friendly, thinner-than-a-slice-of-American-cheese, recycled cardboard sleeves, I was somewhat surprised (and a little confused) earlier this year, when I received No Age's brand new album, Nouns. Unless your name is Conor Oberst, indie bands and labels usually don't splurge on anything over a tri-fold album cover, but No Age's Nouns is a ΒΌ" thick and includes a 36-page colored--yeah, that's right, I said "colored"--booklet. Five pages of the booklet are dedicated to album info and lyrics, while the other 31 are... MORE »
"Thriller's" Monopoly of the Dance Floor
By Jim Shearer on 12/01/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATThis weekend my wife and I attended our seventh wedding of the year (I think that has to be some kind of record for us). Anyway, we had a great time visiting with friends and family, the cake was delicious (love the fruit filling), the weather was nice, but one thing irked me (as it has during the other weddings I've been to this year): When did Michael Jackson's "Thriller" become a mandatory crowd participation dance? I understand there are a gazillion YouTube videos with wedding parties doing the "Thriller" choreography to a T. There's also world record attempts... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Judgment Day
By Jim Shearer on 11/20/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATIn the early 90's, Terminator 2 (aka, T2) was one of my favorite movies. The special effects were years before its time, Sarah Connor (played by Linda Hamilton) ushered in a new era of female heroines that could kick some serious ass, and those half-sentence catch phrases from Arnold Schwarzenegger--man--who couldn't resist those? Though I loved the film, I always thought the storyline was a little far-fetched. Computers and robots taking over the world? Yeah right! (above: "I'm the biggest rock star of the decade!") As I sit here today, a good 17 years after the film was released... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: McMusic Memories
By Jim Shearer on 11/07/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATPeople get weepy when stadiums close down (see: Yankee Stadium) and legendary music venues go out--or are forced out--of business (see: CBGB's), so it should come as no surprise that one can get a little nostalgic when certain fast food restaurants are leveled to the ground (see: Shaler McDonald's). This week, one of our Indie Ear contributors (the one who's nuts about Madonna) informed me that my former place of employment back in Pittsburgh, Shaler McDonald's, was whacked with a wrecking ball and is no more. I spent seven-and-a-half years of my life in that building. Most of those... MORE »
For Those About Barack (We Salute You)
By Jim Shearer on 11/05/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATYesterday, millions and millions of Americans pressed touch-screens, flicked levers, and punched chads all in an attempt to Barack the Vote. Some smelled what Barack was cookin', others didn't. As results began coming in, we saw Barack around the clock, and vote by vote, he continued to Barack On. Could he actually pull this off? At 9PM, Barack was ahead of McCain both in popular and electoral votes, leading his supporters to proclaim: "I Love Barack n' Roll" (put another dime in the jukebox baby!). Some once skeptical Americans, overcome by the excitement of the night, began swaying slightly... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Highlights For Your Music
By Jim Shearer on 10/30/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATIf anyone has read the Indie Ear blog since it's inception, you should know that I have a not-so-secret obsession with sports. C'mon, pairing indie bands against each other in a NCAA-style tournament didn't give it away? How about when I sketched out drawings of my favorite indie artists posing as 2008 Summer Olympians? (above: Music and sports have more in common than you think.) Though a high school band geek getting bullied by a varsity football player on a daily basis might disagree, music and sports have a lot in common. Both have the ability to inspire, make... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: How She Move
By Jim Shearer on 10/20/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATIf there's one thing I've learned about the upcoming Presidential Election, it's that I'm (usually) not allowed to discuss it with friends and/or family. Despite keeping an open mind when they are talking about their candidate of choice, the conversation-valve is usually clamped shut when I open my mouth. I guess that's one of the disadvantages of coming from a background of one-platform-ponies (not saying standing on one platform is necessarily a bad thing, but when your candidate of choice contradicts many of your own moral beliefs, standing on one platform, and one platform alone, seems a little silly).... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Sad But True
By Jim Shearer on 09/29/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATLet me introduce you to the "burnout." This now rare species roamed the earth from the 1970's through the 1980's. They could be easily identified by their untied high-top sneakers, tight pants, and a jean jacket with a patch of their favorite heavy metal band emblazoned on the back. A cigarette could usually be seen hanging from their bottom lip, and when they weren't inflicting pain on neighborhood children, they could be found waxing their automobiles, while blasting their favorite heavy metal tunes of the day. I grew up in the same neighborhood with many "burnouts," and let me... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Where Do You Go?
By Jim Shearer on 09/22/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATI'm sure by now you've heard that Travis Barker and DJ AM, touring on their latest mixtape side-project, were involved in a plane crash this weekend, one that killed four other people on board the aircraft. Apparently--though none of this has been confirmed yet--the jet blew a tire while attempting to take off and skidded from the runway. Eyewitnesses saw Barker and DJ AM fleeing from the wreckage, trying to extinguish the flames from their clothing. Barker and DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) were initially labeled in critical condition, but as of today, both men are expected to make full... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Losing My Fashion Sense
By Jim Shearer on 09/12/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATIf someone heard my name and the phrase "trend setter" in the same sentence, they'd probably laugh--especially my close friends. They'd tell you that I've been wearing the same cut-off Dickies shorts, Converse one-stars, and thrift store T-shirts for the last fifteen years. They'd also tell you that if I was indeed a "trend setter," it has been a long, long time since I started one. Just because I haven't changed my wardrobe in over a decade does not necessarily mean that I am not fashion conscious. Oh believe you me, I am definitely conscious of fashion, but I'm... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Farewell VMA's
By Jim Shearer on 09/08/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATFeel free to dock me some indie-cred points, but let it be known that I've only missed one MTV Video Music Awards show since 1991 (ironically, I missed the 2006 VMA's because I was busy working for MTV Networks at the time). My excitement for the VMA's has waned over the years, but nevertheless I always make sure to tune in. I guess it's the same reason I'll occasionally eat a bologna sandwich. They're not necessarily good, but they remind of me good times I had when I was younger. I was never really interested in the made-for-TV VMA... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Seeing the Music
By Jim Shearer on 08/18/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATI made Nike look like a genius today. While I was working out this afternoon, I felt a surge of adrenaline run through my body when The Killer's "All These Things I've Done" shuffled through my iPod. If you don't know the song, I'm sure you know the breakdown: I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier. (left: Mary Lou Retton, one of the many great athletes appearing in the newest Nike commercial featuring the Killer's, "All These Things I've Done." Like the recent Nike commercial that features the tune--I envisioned a quick montage of athletic achievement and struggle.... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Pressin' the F_ck Button
By Jim Shearer on 08/07/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATNot that it matters so much anymore, but I remember in the booming days of the compact disc, when certain musical acts would tweak artwork, album titles, and song titles just to get their album onto the shelves of a retail store. Record labels wanted their artists' discs to be sold in monster retail locations like Wal-Mart, because (sadly) most people buy their music at monster retail locations--that's why many of today's kids may not even know what a record store is. Artists would usually agree with their labels, giving the all too safe answer, "Well, we want our... MORE »
Is All Points West Going To Be All That?
By Jim Shearer on 07/25/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATWe have about one more solid month of summer music festivals before this season, the biggest one yet in the U.S., comes to a close. Each town, whether big or small, tries to outdo everyone else with a better festival headliner, a better gimmick, better live web streaming, and even a better logo. Since many of the same acts are playing various festivals, it's becoming more and more difficult to stand out from the rest of the pack. To get the most bang-for-their-buck, festival promoters are also having acts sign "radius clauses" which prevents them from playing in a... MORE »
Pitchfork 2008...Best of the Rest!
By Jim Shearer on 07/21/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THAT, LISTSBIGGEST WASTE OF WATER AWARD In the age of bottled-water, this may seem a little disgusting, but the Pitchfork Festival had some fountains cranking out some good 'ol Chicago tap water (which was mighty good). For some reason, this particular faucet wouldn't shut off. Because I'm down with a little water conservation every now and then, I tried my best to stop this fountain from running. The water fountain won. DOWN FOR THE CAUSE AWARD On a 90-degree day with the sun beating down on festival goers, this fan of Ghostface Killah & Raekwon braved it all and wore... MORE »
Weezer Album Cover Memory Test
By Jim Shearer on 06/25/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATAs you may know from recent episodes of Lunchbox or glowing album reviews, I'm a big fan of Weezer. Even though they may have shed their college-rock charm years ago, I still can't help to not obsess about them. I almost feel obliged to apologize, but I won't give you the satisfaction. On their most recent album, and for the fourth time in the history of the band, Weezer appears on their album cover. Because I'm a fan (did I mention that?) I tried to look at all four album covers more closely to see if there was some... MORE »
My First Official Mix-Disc of the Year
By Jim Shearer on 06/13/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THAT, LISTSAt least a couple times a year, I try to send 20-30 of my closest music listening friends a Milkit mix CD (Milkit is my half-imaginary/half-real indie record label that has been putting out homemade mixtapes for years). (left: My co-worker/cat, Bat-Bat, is the official cover girl of my latest mix. Note: I'll probably scrimp on the color copying and go black-and-white for the CD-sleeve, sorry Troy). Half of the people receiving the mix have kept up with current music (and will probably debate me on why I didn't include certain tracks), while the other half have fallen a... MORE »
MTV Brings Back the Music Video...Again
By Jim Shearer on 06/11/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATThis Friday night MTV will premiere FNMTV, a one-hour block of uninterrupted music videos hosted by Pete Wentz and MTV News' Tim Kash and James Montgomery. All of the feel-good phrases have been used to hype up the show's premiere: "Trying to save the music video," "Once upon a time music videos meant something," and "Videos shown in their entirety." I'm all for it--let's bring back the music video! (above: Pete, I served with John Sencio, I knew John Sencio; John Sencio was a friend of mine. Pete, you're no John Sencio.) Before I get too excited, I've got... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: My Own Best of Radiohead
By Jim Shearer on 06/04/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATYesterday, Radiohead, or I should say Radiohead's former record label, EMI, released a double-disc greatest hits collection simply titled, The Best of Radiohead (Special Edition). Since I'm pretty sure Radiohead had no say in the matter, the label decided to cram a bunch of the group's hits on two discs, which seems like an easy way out. Here's what I decided to do today--piece together a greatest hits compilation like they used to do back in the day, taking only 10 of a group's best songs and putting them all on one disc. In the last few years, it... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: The Last Rock Star?
By Jim Shearer on 05/29/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATSometimes when writing for a blog called Indie Ear, I (almost) feel guilty for showing excitement over certain major label releases. However--when I take a second to think about it--concealing my emotions for whatever reason is not true independence, and if I'm not independent, what place do I have on a website expressing independent thoughts and ideas (yes that "I" in IFC stands for independent if you didn't know). Ah yes, a very slippery slope my friends. (left: Though this cat looks like your typical mainstream rocker, she's actually signed to a small indie label.) I have some comrades... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Move Over Air Jordan
By Jim Shearer on 05/22/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THAT(left: Yes, that's Kurt Cobain in a Converse ad.) Some of you may remember the old Nike commercial where Michael Jordan, from various locations on the court, slam dunks a basketball at will. His small sidekick, Mars Blackman (played by a then relatively unknown Spike Lee), was so impressed with his buddy's incomparable skills, that he came to the only logical conclusion he could think of, "It's gotta be the shoes." Cause c'mon, how could somebody be that good? He must be getting a little help from somewhere else, and that somewhere else is--aha--his Air Jordan sneakers.... MORE »
Inside the Beastie Boys' Oscilloscope Laboratories
By Jim Shearer on 04/25/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATYesterday evening, IFC's Lunchbox crew paid a visit to the Beastie Boys' Oscilloscope Studios--or as Adam Yauch later corrected me--the Oscilloscope Laboratories. I'd tell you where it was, but besides signing a confidentiality agreement, myself, along with my fellow IFC crewmembers were blindfolded and driven around in the back trunk of a car. I think we went over a couple bridges, but I couldn't tell you for sure--if I had to guess, I'd say their secret den is somewhere between Jersey City and upstate New York. (left: Adam Yauch testing the Oscilloscope's surveillance system.) We met up with Adam... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Judging an Album by it's Cover
By Jim Shearer on 04/23/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATYesterday, Troy (aka, Smooth, aka Clarence Nice, aka Mr. Q.P.T.), who is not only one of our frequent "posters" here on the Indie Ear Blog, but is also a revered and well respected member of the 'zine world (which were basically blogs before blogs existed), commented on Weezer's newly unveiled album cover (left). He mentioned how Rivers Cuomo's "country" look doesn't seem to be as smooth as Jack White or Beck's transition into western-wear. When done correctly, a cowboy hat and rockmount shirt (worn with a hint of irony) seems like an ideal wardrobe choice for any indie artist.... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Where's the B-B-Bass in Indie Rock?
By Jim Shearer on 04/03/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATWhenever I think of the word "bass" (the sound, not the fish), I automatically hear Public Enemy's Chuck D in my head, distinctly proclaiming, "B-B-BASS!" His voice has been sampled so many times, even if you don't know who Chuck D is, you might be familiar with the "B-B-BASS" snippet. As a nation, bass is something that we embrace. When teenagers are looking to buy their first automobiles, they could give a crap about how many cylinders are in the engine or if the vehicle has front or rear-wheel steering. All that matters is if the car has a... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Camel Joe Hoarding Tickets in his Hump
By Sarah Pesin on 03/26/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATThere's no doubt about it that the music industry is riddled with corporate sponsorships, which when used correctly can produce great results. Just look at South by Southwest, which is the ultimate example of the union between corporate sponsorships and music. SXSW would be unable to survive without the help from well-known companies, and to be honest, we music fans enjoy this marriage, because it usually means free stuff for us! There comes a time when this sponsorship goes too far--when it affects the music. Lately (for some unknown reason) Camel Cigarettes has been sponsoring concerts. Can you see... MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: SXSW 101
By Jim Shearer on 03/10/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATSometimes I forget to realize that not everyone knows about SXSW. Maybe some people think it's a vacation resort that hands out oval decals? Maybe they think it's a sport? Possibly an airport? Before you get SXSW confused with OBX or LAX, let me be kind enough to explain (and fear not my friends, no question is a stupid question. I promise not to roll my eyes at you like the kid in tight jeans working the CD section at Best Buy): MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Behind the Face of Mark Lanegan
By Jim Shearer on 03/05/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATThis week, Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli released The Gutter Twins' debut album, Saturnalia (Sub Pop). Here's an MP3 of their single, Idle Hands. In a post a couple weeks back, I promised a good Mark Lanegan story. Well, here goes: MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Maxim Apologizes For Reviewing A Black Crowes Album They Hadn't Heard
By Jim Shearer on 02/27/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATYesterday I bit. Yep, I bit for one of those news teasers posted on Yahoo. The headline read: "Maxim Apologizes for Review." I just had to click on the story. A music critic apologizing for an album review? Are you kidding me? That's like Bill O'Reilly pledging support for Barack Obama, or a New York Yankees fan applauding the Boston Red Sox' World Series victory last October. A holier-than-thou-I-know-more-about-music-than-you critic actually conceded defeat. For real? MORE »
IT'S LIKE THAT: Is Metallica Worthy of Hippie Love?
By Jim Shearer on 02/19/2008
Filed under: IT'S LIKE THATThe lineup for the 2008 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival (June 12-15) was recently announced. One act in particular caught my eye. It wasn't Jack Johnson, Pearl Jam, or even Kanye West -- it was Metallica. Yes, Creeping-Death-Bell-Tolling-Damage-Incorporated Metallica. Since its humble beginnings in 2002, Bonnaroo (in many music circles) has been referred to as "the hippie festival". Each year, I'd watch as my hippie friends and back-pack hip-hop comrades would leave home and venture down south to Manchester, Tennessee. For three days and nights, they would camp out with thousands of strangers on a 700-acre farm of mud. During... MORE »
