Radio Free Chicago

Your Best of 2004

Sam(antha) Ross, Laurie's Planet of Sound

Best Albums:
10. Two Cow Garage - Wall Against Our Backs
9. Finn Brothers - Everyone is Here
8. Ted Leo - Shake the Sheets
7. the Sadies - Favourite Colours
6. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
5. Califone - Heron King Blues
4. Bobby Bare Jr. - From the End of Your Leash
3. Wilco - A Ghost is Born
2. Joanna Newsom - Milk-Eyed Mender
1. Sufjan Stevens - 7 Swans

Best Shows: (no particular order)
-Decemberists April 1 @ Schubas
-Ted Leo June 19 @ the Hideout
-Pixies November 14 @ Aragon
-Wilco with Calexico September 14 @ the Blue Note (not in Chicago, sorry)
-Sloan April 22 @ Metro

Best Songs Not on Albums mentioned in Top 10
-Andrew Bird - Sovay (free download on http://bowloffire.com)
-Magnolia Electric Co. - Down the Wrong Road Both Ways (on CD with Isn't It Romantic, a book of Love Poems) Just a Kid - Wilco (on the Spongebob soundtrack)
-God's Coffee - Jay Bennett (from his album Bigger Than Blue. this is what a hit single sounds like in some other much cooler dimension than ours)
-Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand (from their s/t album. Come on, it's an awesome dance song!)
-TV on the Radio - New Health Rock (CDS or 7" from Touch and Go. B-side is a Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover. Perfect!)
-Float On - Modest Mouse (from Good News for People Who Love Bad News, another obvious choice, but so so good!)
-That's Alright - Nora O'Conor (from 'Til the Dawn, a beautiful cover of a Stevie Nicks song off Mirage)
-Nanny Nanny Boo Boo - Le Tigre (from This Island, sometimes, you just wanna dance.)

Your Best of 2004

DJ popscum, WLUW-FM 1) Franz Ferdinand – s/t (Domino) Hype: deserved! 2) UV Turks/Serial P.O.P. – Angst Against Crisis (Good Science, serialpop.com) Criminally, brilliantly accessible. I list this for 2004 because seemingly no one but WLUW and the band has been able to get their hands on it and I have no idea when or if it will get a proper release. Why the British music media haven't picked up on these guys baffles me. 3) The Arcade Fire – Funeral (Merge) 4) Interpol – Antics (Matador) 5) The Ponys – Laced with Romance (In the Red) 6) Air – Talkie Walkie (Astralwerks) 7) Dizzee Rascal – Boy in da Corner (Matador) 8) The Fall – The Real New Fall lp (Narnack) 9) Hangar 18 – Multi-Platinum Debut Album (Definitive Jux) 10) The Futureheads – s/t (Sire)

Honarable Mentions

Saul Williams (if it weren't for the couple of hideous Zack de la Rocha-assisted tracks, this would have placed)
TV on the Radio
Les Georges Leningrad
Morrissey
Mclusky
Tom Waits

Your Best of 2004

Pat Van Hulle - music director, WLUW-FM; MP Showster; intern, Billions Corporation

Here is my long-winded Top 10 list for the year. I doubt these are truly the“best” records of the year, but they sure are the ones that spent the most time in my CD player.

1. Liars- They Were Wrong So We Drowned / Mute
Undoubtedly my favorite record of the year. After shredding two of its members, Liars went to a cabin in the woods (I keep thinking of Evil Dead) and created this dense and dark masterpiece that totally turns its back on the dance punk scene that it was the most viable member of. These guys could have been the next Rapture, Faint, or Interpol, but they chose to follow their collective muse and create a beautiful, challenging, and ridiculously fun record. Strange dichotomies galore.

2. and 3. Isis- Panopticon / Ipecac and Mastodon- Leviathan / Relapse
Two of the best metal bands to form in recent memory return with two phenomenal metal albums. You don’t think metal can be a thoughtful and important music genre? Well you haven’t listened to these two amazing albums. While Isis focuses on lush, sprawling epics, Mastodon is a bit rougher combining equal parts King Crimson, Slayer, and early Metallica. I don’t care if you hate metal. Give these albums a listen.

4. No Doctors- ERP Saints / No Sides
So maybe their last few LP’s were recorded a bit too lo-fi for you. Well, ERP Saints, which is an ode to East Rogers Park, the neighborhood the band called home for two years, is the band's first professionally recorded material and it shows. The band's blend ofBeefheart, metal, avant jazz, etc. is truly allowed to shine with the better production. “Future Awaken Widen,” the ten-minute epic (which was actually recorded in one magic take) which closes the EP, is one of the best rock songs ever written. I kid you not. Sadly the band has picked up and moved to SanFrancisco. Chicago, I don’t think you understand what you have lost.

5. Oneida- Secret Wars / Jagjaguar
One of Brooklyn’s finest returns with another great record. “Caesars Column” has to be one of the best songs of the year.

6. Califone- Heron King Blues / Thrill Jockey
I went most of the year without giving this gem its fair chance (I’m still stuck on Roomsound). With the most superficial of analysis, Califone could come off as meandering dad rock, but in reality, Tim Rituli and company have always constructed adventurous and brilliant compositions. Heron King Blues is no exception. I really love how the album seems so quiet, for the most part, but has this deep bubbling under of Beefheart that reveals itself after repeated listenings.

7. Battles- B EP / Dim Mak
A supergroup that is, in fact, super. Easily the best new band to release music this year, Battles is Ian from Don Cab, John Stanier from Helmut and Tomahawk, Tyondai Braxton, and David Konopka of Lynx. Their instrumental compositions have a math rock feel, but there really aren’t any crazy time signatures. The album is more based around rigid grooves that manage ebb and flow with a controlled intensity. Stanier is a machine when it comes to keeping a perfect drum beat.

8. Blonde Redhead- Misery is a Butterfly / 4AD
Blonde Redhead may have completely abandoned its Chicago ties by leaving Touch & Go and The Billions Corporation while also abandoning its proclivity to write some rocking songs, but that does not take away from the fact that Misery is a Butterfly, which takes the band in a new subdued direction, is a great album. Many of the songs do not really differentiate themselves for each other, but I’ve never really gotten bored with it. Maybe it’s the strings provided by Eyvind Kang. Overall, this is just a classy fucking album. “Elephant Woman,” the title track, and “Pink Love” really stand out.

9. PJ Harvey- Uh Huh Her / Island
I’m a sucker for Miss Polly Jean. Heck, I even thoroughly enjoyed the very polished Stories from the City Stories from the Sea. Uh Huh Her takes her back to her earlier days and is probably her best album since Rid of Me.

10. (tie) Ted Leo- Shake the Sheets / Lookout!
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of Ted Leo’s enthusiasm and incredible knack for writing extremely catchy music. I thought Bob Pollard was the one that was supposed to have all the pop hooks. The album is as catchy as ever, but Ted has been able to infuse even more intelligent social criticism into these songs.

And

10. (tie) Wilco- A Ghost is Born / Nonesuch
Its probably cheating to have two number 10’s, but I had to keep this album on my years-end list. The reviewsf or this album have been mixed. Some claim that it is too challenging and some complain that Tweedy’s Crazy Horse-like guitar solos become excessive and pull the album down to the level of lame bar rock. I love the guitar solos and I love most of the “challenging” aspects (sans the 10 minute “migraine in audioform” of track 10). It’s a really good album from a great band. I’ve had more lyrics and melodies from this album stuck in my head than any other this year.

Very Honorable Mentions:

David Thomas and the Two Pale Boys- 18 Monkeys on a Dead Man’s Chest / Smog Veil
It was such a shame that no one showed up to their show at the Empty Bottle. I swear people focus too much on the other Dave Thomas, purveyor of spicy chicken sandwiches. The Pale Boys also did a good job at messing with those Pixies songs on “Frank Black Francis.”

Bjork- Medulla / Elektra
Bjork teaming up with Mike Patton…what could possibly go wrong? I think some of the songs are among some of my Bjork favorites (“Where is the Line” and“Who is It?”) but overall, I find myself skipping a good chunk of these tracks just like I do on Vespertine. Some of these tracks are not quite as engaging as previous albums. Post and Homogenic are still her only two albums where I don’t want to hit the skip button.

Animal Collective- Sung Tongs / Fat Cat
Everyone should hear “Kids on Holiday” at least once. Great live band as well. They completely blew Black Dice off the stage.

Melvins/Lustmord – Pigs of the Roman Empire / Ipecac
Nice collaboration from the princes of sludge rock and Lustmord. 20 years going and still remaining relevant.

Mark Lannnegan – Bubblegum / Beggars
It’s a shame that people didn’t really pick up on this great solo album from former Screaming Trees and QOTSA member. Its far more rock than his previous solo efforts.

Sonic Youth- Sonic Nurse / Geffen
19 albums and still keeping people interested. That’s saying something.

Eisterzende Neubauten- Perpetuum Mobile / Mute
Aging industrialists getting quiet and contemplative. Very nice indeed.

Wolf Eyes- Burned Mind / Sub Pop
I was shocked to see that these Michigan noisesters were putting out an album on Sup Pop. Its their most accessable to date, but still nosier than most of what you heard this year. “Stabbed in theFace” has to be one of the best song titles of all year.

Tom Waits- Real Gone / Anti
Bringing back the guitar and dropping the piano helps make another great album from Mr. Waits. I hear he is touring the states this spring. Here’s to hoping.

Modest Mouse- Good News for People who Like Bad News / Epic
Brock deserves to have a platinum album. It’s better than those asssholes in Puddle of Mudd or Nickleback getting all the airplay. Iaasac’s lyrics are still pretty clever and the guitar lick of “Float On” is almost too catchy for its own good.

Neurosis- The Eye of Every Storm / Neurot
I’m always talking up Isis and Pelican, so I should give props to one of their biggest influences. After slipping a bit, Neurosis sounds as viable as ever.

Serial POP/UV Turks
Great music and sad that they do not get all that much attention. When they do get huge we can say we knew them back when.

Best songs from bands that I haven’t already mentioned:

"I Luv The Valley Oh!” by Xiu Xiu
I really used to hate this band, but this song, and most of the album Fabulous Muscles is fantastic. I still don’t like their wimpy/whiny quiet songs, which are too over the top for my liking.

Magnetic Fields’ “I Thought You Were my Boyfriend” and “I Don’t Believe You.”

Things I’m concerned about (Besides 4 more years with that one guy):

I didn’t really discover any new music this year from bands that I had never heard of. Besides Battles (and that’s a stretch because I already know about Don Cab andTomahawk), all of the albums I really enjoyed this year were from artists and bands that I already know and love. I’ve listened to most of the big records of the year and they just didn’t do anything for me. Am I becoming old and jaded? Or do I just not yet understand the whole Arcade Fire thing?

Your Best of 2004

Chris Baroner - talent booker, Metro BEST ALBUMS (in no particular order) -French Kicks - The Trial Of The Century -TV On The Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes -Spektrum - Enter The Spektrum -The Changes – S/T EP (self-released) -Lansing-Dreiden - The Invisible Triangle -DFA – Compilation #2 -Saul Williams – S/T

BEST SHOWS (in no particular order)
-The Walkmen & French Kicks @ Metro – March 11
-The Faint & TV On The Radio @ Metro – October 6 & 7
-2 Many DJs & James Murphy @ Smartbar – April 28
-The Decemberists @ Metro – June 4
-Ted Leo/Pharmacists & The Changes @ The Hideout – June 19
-Q and Not U & El Guapo @ Logan Sqaure Auditorium – October 10
-The Futureheads & The Changes @ Empty Bottle – November 10
-Sufjan Stevens @ Schubas – November 18

BEST SINGLES (in no particular order)
-Bloc Party – Banquet
-Franz Ferdinand – This Fire
-The Walkmen – The Rat
-LCD Soundsystem – Yeah (Pretentious Version)
-The Faint – Paranoiattack
-Saul Williams – List Of Demands

Your Best of 2004

Zach Cowie - publicist, Drag City

Best Albums:
-bill fay - from the bottom of an old grandfather clock (reissue)
flawless. where did he come from?! even bill's out-takes and rarities are better than 98.9% of the recorded matter in this universe.
-judee sill - heartfood and s/t (reissue)
everyone should own both of these. definitely on my list of favorite albums of all time. light soundz/heavy lyricz.
-joanna newsom - milk-eyed mender
still speechless.
-pg six - the well of memory
didn't hit me as hard as 'parlor tricks...' but i've grown to really dig it.
-sandy denny - a boxful of treasures (reissue)
this is by far my box set of the year. amazing selection of tunes with awesome ultra-hobbit packaging.
-anything animal collective related
i love these guys. probably the most forward group of dudes currently jamming.
-relatively clean rivers - s/t (reissue)
killer mid-70's rural sounds from unsung hero phil pearlman.
-r kelly - happy people/you saved me
dan k got me completely addicted...i don't think i'll ever understand why, and i'm totally cool with that.
-anything grateful dead related that was reissued/released this year
my most listened to and loved band of 2004 is officially the grateful dead. i dare you to find anything radder than the 'dead jamming 'new speedway boogie' in the festival express dvd. back off haters.
-comets on fire - field recordings from the sun
more bong rattling sounds from my favorite group of dudes ever put in one room.

Best Shows of 2004:
-comets on fire -vs- wolf eyes in detroit (sorry wolf eyes)
-ghost, six organs of admittance, and white magic in san francisco
-bonnie/sweeney at that hookah bar in the house of (cham)paign
-any of the shows featured in 2004's Festival Express DVD (i cheated a bit)
-the 30+ vetiver, joanna newsom, and devendra banhart shows i saw this summer (i miss my family!)

Happy Holidays

Well, that about wraps things up for this year...

Next week, I'll start posting Top 10 lists from RFC readers and various Chicago music luminaries. The lists should continue at least through the first week of the New Year. Submit yours at rfceditor@hotmail.com.

Brad's Best of 2004, Part 2

6. Dizzee Rascal - Showtime (XL) What can I say...I like this guy! While the domestic release of Boy in da Corner was delayed, Showtime was released in conjunction with the UK schedule, so stateside fans were treated with two Rascit rekids in the same year. I have a feeling that Showtime may have more lasting value, but because Boy in da...was my introduction to Dizzee, I'll probably always be a little partial to it. That being said, Showtime is still a brilliant record and would've been number 1 on my list in any other year. (full disclosure: this may well have even been my second favorite record this year, but I avoided listing Dizzee #1 and #2 on my list so that I wouldn't look like a complete fanboy)

7. Air - Talkie Walkie (Astralwerks)
What can I say, I'm a sucker for these guys too. They'll probably never be able to top Moon Safari (see introduction rule above) , and this release probably isn't even as good as their last record, 10,000 Hz. Legend. However, it's still Air and it's still a damn good album. Even if the rest of the songs sucked, "Run" alone would have probably secured this record in my top 10.

8. Tom Waits - Real Gone (Anti)
I picked this one up on a whim without even hearing a single track, and god damn...Waits has still got it! Dark, edgy and stark, this is a great album and a great sounding recording. (if you have any doubts that analog really does sound better than digital, listen to this record on a good turntable) I don't know how he still does it, but if I'm a third as cool as Waits when I'm 55, I'll be happy.

9. Wilco - A Ghost is Born (Nonesuch)
As much as it was "cool" to declare Yankee Hotel Foxtrot your favorite album of 2002, it seems to be just as "cool" this year to declare that A Ghost...is a dud. I don't know, I guessed I missed that memo from the cool police or something, because I thought A Ghost was a great record. More great songwriting, more avant-pop blips and bleeps and new-and-improved Verlaine-inspired guitar solos. Was Yankee a better record? Maybe, but it's hard to objectively judge that one because of all the hype that surrounded it. But really...what f^%$n' difference does it make, anyway? A Ghost is a good record and a fine addition to the already solid Wilco repertoire.

10.Loscil - First Narrows (Kranky)
Another great record put out by Chicago's Kranky and another great release from Vancouver's Loscil, aka Scott Morgan. Warm atmospheric beats and ambient soundscapes, this is essential listening for anyone digs ambient and/or downtempo electronic music.

11. Madvillain - Madvillainy (Stones Throw)
America's most blunted, indeed! This collaboration between producer Madlib and the MC known as MF Doom has been touted by many as the best underground hip hop record of the year, if not of the past 5 years. I say screw the "underground" label, this is just a damn good hip hop record, period. Madlib's insane production skills and Doom's flawless (and always entertaining) rhymes are about as good as it gets in hip hop. My only complaint about the record, (and the reason why it didn't chart higher on my list) is that it suffers a bit from ADD. It seems like just as soon as Doom gets a good flow going and I really start to feel the groove of the song, the Madvillain switches things up and hits another joint. But I guess that's really the point of the record, innit?

12. Brian Wilson - Smile (Nonesuch)
Like Madvillain, this too is a brilliant record that seems to have got robbed on my list. However, the real genius of the record was laid down in 1967, so really it was one of the top records of that year, not 2004...so it seemed that I should knock it down a few notches on my list. Also, in reality, it's not nearly as genius as pop historians had mysticized that it would be (then again, I don't think any album could be) and it's probably a slight step behind Pet Sounds in terms of overall artistic achievement.

That being said...and all pretensions and technicalities aside, this is still a damn fine recording that was one of my favorites of the year. Somehow, Wilson was able to make "Good Vibrations" just as good, if not better than the original and the updated "Heroes and Villains" squashes the Smiley Smile version, at least in this reporter's opinion. 2004's Smile is truly a great accomplishment for Wilson and a real treat for orchestral pop fans of all ages.

Other Favorites:

-Lars Horveth - Pooka (Smalltown Supersound)
-Elliott Smith - From a Basement on the Hill (Anti)
-Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans (Sounds Familyre)
-Various Artists - Tales From the Oxygen Den (Radical Turf)
-Vast Aire - Look Mom, No Hands (Chocolate Industries)
-DM + Jemini - Ghetto Pop Life (Lex)
-Belle & Sebastian - "Your Cover's Blown"
-Diverse - "Big Game"

Brad's best of 2004

Here it is...my "best of" albums for 2004

-Brad Knutson, Managing Editor - Radio Free Chicago

1. Dizzee Rascal - Boy in da Corner (Matador)
This was released in the UK in 2003, and even picked up the Mercury Prize that year. However, I didn't get my grubby little hands on this release until the fine folks at Matador released it domestically early this year. Despite being a cynical and jaded music snob, Boy in Da Corner actually made me say dorky things like "this record's hot!" as if I was some teenage girl talking about the latest Usher record. I didn't know how else to describe it...those beats, those hooks, Dizzee's insane rap style...and a Billy Squier sample. A fucking Billy Squier sample?!? Are you kidding? He seriously just cut of the hottest singles of the new millennium built around a Billy Squier song!! ...it was just all too much.

2. RJD2 - Since We Last Spoke...(Def Jux)
In 2002, RJD2 seemingly came out of nowhere to release one of the best records of that year, Dead Ringer, a hip hop-based DJ record built around old soul records. The comparisons to DJ Shadow were inescapable...but it wasn't so much that RJD2 was ripping Shadow off, it was that he had actually beat Shadow at his own game.

This year, RJD2 released the follow-up to Dead Ringer and (oh, snap!) he did it again. While there are still plenty of great beats and dusty soul groves, this sophomore effort is a bit more developed and mature. In fact, RJ even busts out a ballad and sings it himself...and it doesn't suck! (Hell, I'd have to say it's one of my favorite tracks on the album) Try that one DJ Shadow!

3. Danger Mouse - The Grey Album (self-released)
Ah, the mash-up...they're almost always amusing, but rarely do you want to hear them repeatedly after the initial novelty wears off. That's the beauty of the Grey Album, not only is the concept genius (i.e. putting of the music of The Beatles White Album behind the vocals of Jay-Z's Black Album), but the execution so good that you forget about the whole "novelty" of it, and you just appreciate the genius of the music overall. In fact, this record is so damn good that I'd have to say its preferable to the original, record-label approved, Jay-Z version.

4. The Dead Texan - Self-Titled (Kranky)
A side project from Adam Wiltzie, who is best known as one-half of the electronic drone duo Stars of the Lid. Much like his work with Stars..., this record is an amazingly beautiful collection of ambient music and subtle sonic experimentation. To be honest, I've really only experienced half of this project...besides the music CD, the release also includes a DVD containing seven video pieces from video artist Christina Vantzos to accompany each track on the album. Unfortunately, I still don't own a DVD player, but I'm hoping Santa will leave one under the tree this year so I can experience this release to the fullest.

5. The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free (Vice)
It seems that people either love this guy (Mike Skinner, aka The Streets) or they hate him. I certainly fall into the former category and this sophomore effort did not disappoint. Yeah, it's not as instantly likable or catchy as Original Pirate Material, but A Grand...is neither an artistic or commercial failure. Rather than just bangin' out another quick set of geezer anthems, Skinner set out to make a concept record and absolutely nailed it. No small feat, to say the least, let alone for a hip hop album. Is it our generation's Tommy or The Wall? Probably not, but it's certainly on par with other milestone English albums like Different Class, Parklife and London Calling. You really have to listen to this album in its entirety to truly appreciate its genius, but there are also some great individual tunes (or as Skinner would say, "bangers") on here. "Blinded by the Lights" and "Such a Twat" are personal favorites, and "Dry Your Eyes Mate" scored Skinner his first number one single on the UK pop charts. Jolly good show, Mike!

(stay tuned tomorrow for my 5-10)

Making the list, checking it twice...

Every year as I compile my top ten album list, I always encounter an internal debate in my mind about what constitutes "Best" of the year.

1. Should I base my list on what I listened to most in the year?

2. Should it be based on the 10 records that are still my favorites at this particular point...or should it be the 10 that were my favorites at various points throughout the year?

3. Or, should I be ranking the albums in terms of their overall artistic achievement?

Don't get me wrong, this isn't something that keeps me lying awake every night, but these questions always do come into play when I start to compile my list.

Obviously, it's impossible to track exactly what records one listens to the most, but usually it's fairly easy to guess which 3 or 4 records you've listened to most. So...should a record that you played the hell out of in the Spring still go in top 10 even though you're now sick of it and haven't listened to it since?

Alternately, let's say that record was a pop-album guilty pleasure...Even though it had significantly less artistic merit than some of the more avant-garde selections on your list, it still was a personal favorite and you listened it far more than most anything else. Does it still warrant a top spot or should it be knocked down off the list simply because the songs were simple three-minute, three chord wonders?

After these thoughts swirl around in my head for a while and I write and re-write about 5 different versions of my list, my heart usually prevails and I settle on the top 10 that are simply my favorites after all the dust settles.

First of all, while artistic achievement is certainly a factor in judging what was the "best" of the year... at the end of the day, it's really about the impact that the music made on you. Doesn't matter if it's low-brow, high-brow or somewhere in-between. If it rocked you're world, it should go on the top of the list.

Second, I'm not a rock critic...so no need to overanalyze things.

Third, after the initial impression or impact that an album has on you, I think longevity is almost as important in determining the value of a piece of art. When something is new, it's real easy to get excited about it and want to spend a lot of time with it. However, it takes something extra special to stand the test of time. Therefore, I think the "best" of the year should be the albums that still sound great on January 1 and still make you want to listen again and again.

Stay tuned on Monday for the beginning of my official top ten (or will it be 15?) Also, still plenty of time to submit your ten ten lists...keep 'em coming at rfceditor@hotmail.com

Basquiat (1960-1988) in the film

Basquiat (1960-1988) in the film Downtown '81

Africa Hi-Fi celebrates the life of Basquiat

This Friday at Sonotheteque, the monthly music series Africa Hi-Fi will be celebrating the life of artist Jean Michel Basquiat.

In his short life, Jean-Michel Basquiat came to personify the art scene of the 80s, with its merging of youth culture, money, hype, excess, and self-destruction. And then there was the work, which the public image tended to overshadow: paintings and drawings that conjured up marginal urban black culture and black history, as well as the artist's own conflicted sense of identity.

He was, all at once it seemed, the ultimate party animal, a wannabe streetkid and grafittist hiding his black Brooklyn middle class roots, an advocate and interpreter of the marginal and dispossessed at the court of the mainstream, an angry black aspirant to the all-white art canon, a precocious talent, a creature of cynical marketing and a fraud, a proto-muIticulturalist, an AMERICAN ORIGINAL.

Africa Hi-Fi's "resident Dee-jay selector" Ron Trent will be conducting the tribute all night in conjuction with the International Capoeira Anglola Foundation of Chicago. Doors open at 9pm.

Sonotheque is located at 1444 West Chicago

Miss Mia and Ratso want

Miss Mia and Ratso want You

Chic-A-Go-Go hits the big screen!

Chic-A-Go-Go!, Chicago's #1 dance party for kids of all ages, will be rolling film next week for a brand new movie based on the show. If you thought Chic-A-Go-Go! looked great on videotape, what 'till you see it on film! Here's the latest scoop from Ratso:

...this month we are shooting footage that will be in CHIC-A-GO-GO THE MOVIE! That's right, we are working with some talented filmmakers to help shoot a movie version of the show and we will shoot footage on Monday the 20th for that project. We will basically be shooting one episode of Chic-A-Go-Go that night, and we want all the best, prettiest, most unique looking, most Chic-A-Go-Go-ish dancers to be there! We need dancers of all ages, so even though it's in the evening, please bring the little ones if you can!

Chic-A-Go-Go Movie Taping
MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2004
6:30pm-8pm
CAN-TV Studio
322 S. Green St.
(Van Buren, 1 block west of Halsted)

New Releases Tuesday (12/14)

Just when I was about ready to give up and post that there wasn't a damn thing to report this week, I ran across this little gem:

Mark Sandman - Sandbox (2 disc Box Set w/DVD) (Hi-N-Dry)

Morphine leader Mark Sandman was the inventor of a sound called "low rock" — the distinctive blend of sonorous saxophone, bass and deep grooves that, along with Mark’s lyric poetry, propelled Morphine to fame. But Mark created much more than the brilliant music of Morphine. He was a tireless musical experimenter who wrote and recorded constantly throughout his life. Although Morphine and the seminal swamp-blues quartet Treat Her Right became well known and successful, much of his work was never commercially released and remains unheard — except by his large circle of friends, who he regularly commandeered to critique his latest, usually over a bottle of Patron. Sandbox brings everyone into that circle. After 5 years meticulously culling the large collection of original music, poetry and art left behind by Mark after his untimely death in 1999, the surviving members of Morphine, Bill Conway and Dana Colley, have assembled the essential Mark Sandman collection. More a musical adventure than a "greatest hits" set, the 30 songs on Sandbox are connected by the voice and the singular musical and lyrical vision of Mark Sandman. For Morphine and Treat Her Right devotees, it’s a final affectionate encore. For the uninitiated, an invitation to discover the depth and scope of Mark’s unique and challenging artistry. Sandbox also includes a DVD of rare and unseen footage, artifacts of Mark’s career and even more Sandman music.
-Amazon.com