|  | | elcome to user-submitted reviews! Want to submit your own review? Simply email your review to announce@altartli.com. | | | | The Windblown World: Journals of Jack Kerouac 1947-1954 by Douglas Brinkley | | | | September 2005 | | | | Book Review
Windblown World is all about the ENERGY of Kerouac and is a great look into his mind during some of his most influential writings. You get a real sense of Kerouac as a person outside of his books and feel his hunger, anguish and his desire to just GO. The book is a collection of journals, but the chronology of it gives a nice timeline to his thoughts. Less scattered but also less momentous than his collection of writings in Some of the Dharma, these journals are wonderful snippets. Very personal and very admirable, if you're a fan of Kerouac, pick this one up! ISBN: 0670033413 — Review by Richard Hoschler | | | | Sleater-Kinney @ Roseland Ballroom | | | | July 2005 | | | | Thursday, June 23rd, Roseland Ballroom, NYC
Summer had finally arrived, + so did the heat. But that didn't keep the kids from lining the street just outside Roseland, the legendary Ballroom, hosting tonight the triumphant return of Sleater-Kinney, whose latest release, The Woods, will certainly gain from the mainstream noteriety they so earnestly deserve.
After opening DC band, Dead Meadow, wallowed through their mock grunge swamp sludge, the crowd was anxiously awaiting the organized, volumized mayhem that is S-K.
Upon taking the stage, the girls opened the show as they had the aforementioned album, railing headlong into The Fox followed immediately by Wilderness. The atmosphere was welcoming + supportive, some of the patrons not necessarily being too familiar with the newest material, which the band featured exclusively. The girls, Carrie + Corin on guitars + vocals, Janet on drums + sometimes harmonica, are obviously proud of their new material leaving virtually no tune on The Woods untouched by their sonic seance.
The set was seemingly fairly lengthy due to the longest song they've ever committed to disc in Let's Call It Love. The jam itself was clocking in around the ten minute range. Their show was unique. Usually bands tend to premiere 2 to 3 songs from a new release. The whole set was predominately the album, so we felt priviledged to be witness to so special a show. But it didn't end there. The crowd, which was fairly evenly mixed between the gender species, hollered, screamed, whistled for more which the girls obliged after not too long a break + proceeded to rap into about 3-4 tunes from some of the earlier records including, The Hot Rock + Dig Me Out.
Not seeing how they could possibly have any more gas in the tank the girls returned after another five minutes of the fans incessant catewalling dedicating the next number to Glenn. What followed was a suped up version of Danzig's Mother which utterly kicked. Closing the show with a handful of earlier tunes the audience poured out decently drained. The ritual that was The Woods Live was juiced for all its worth + no one clearly can deny that the S-K girls are one of the greatest rock outfits doing it today.— Review by Rob Brower | | | | Marky Ramone @ The Downtown | | | | July 2005 | | | | Thursday, June 11th, The Downtown, Farmingdale
Marky Ramone is certainly no where near retirement age + he knows it. That's why he's been as busy as ever. Coming off touring late last year with the legendary Misfits, Marky's striking out with his own band of misfits.
Upon lighting the stage, a few brief words from the host, We're here to play Ramones songs, so let's go + ripped into a classic set of fan favorites. The crowd, much of whom were underage teends, (it was an all ages show) were dormant yet wide-eyed bearing witness to a true rock legend. The band was in fine form, tight, + enjoying themselves. Covering all the classics, from Rock-N-Roll High School to Teenage Lobotomy, to my favorite, Psychotherapy. Yes, they did play Sedated, you can leave now, asshole. 25 tunes passed like a blur but my feet reminded me for days. Noticing that none of hte teenies were jumping around or responding to these classics, Marky prodded them, Why don't you save it for the next show.
The set was sweet. All the goods, not every, but Commando, Havanna, Something to Do, Shock Treatment, and an apt tribute to Joey as they encored with What A Wonderful World + Ramones.
Apparently, they are touring around. I strongly recommend you catch them if you can. Can't wait 'til the next time. Ramones forever!— Review by Rob Brower | | | | The Doors of the 21st Century @ Jones Beach | | | | June 2005 | | | | The Doors have heretofore earned themselves a unique place among the anals of rock history. The Doors of the 21st Century are yet another among the long list of rock-n-roll reunions to emerge after 30 odd years of anonymity. What the Doors of 21C bring that most other apparitions of yesteryear don't is a seemingly endless array of classic tunes. Though their canon posses scarely 60 tunes, in any given 1 hr 15 min set you're bound to hear 3-7 tunes that will send you screaming into the night with unbridled excitement.
Ian Astbury knows his role + plays it for all it's worth. Never at teh forefront yet indubitoubly pronounced, his renditions of classics such as Break on Through to Touch Me virtually match the intensity of the former singer/legend, Jim Morrison.
It's a given that no one is like the man + equally known that it would be a travesty to attempt to recreate the nuances channelled from another time + place. The reason D21C is back is to celebrate the beauty that is the music of central instrumentalists, Ray Manzarek + guitarist extraordinaire, Robbie Krieger.
Their set served merely as a teast to entice us to uphold the mantle + to actively seek further live performances form this cement incarnation.
An evening that couldn't be beat at Jones Beach Arena, unless of course, we could've had the When the Music's Over rather thanthe predictably banal L.A. Woman. Never a dull moment throughout the 10 tune set. Should not be missed if afforded the opportunity in the near future.
Set List:
Peace Frog
Break on Through
Not to Touch the Earth
Alabama Song
Back Door Man
Touch Me
Five to One
L.A. Woman
Encores:
Roadhouse Blues
Light My Fire — Review by Rob Brower | | | | Future Leaders of the World - Lvl IV | | | | June 2005 | | | | A good mix of dark ballads as well as angst filled rebelliousness make this disc a worthwhile addition to the collection. Singer Phil Tayler bares his soul, draws blood, + leaves it all out on the floor throughout. A new band with a boldness, as their moniker indicates, who we hope will be around for a while to uphold the mantle they most steadfastly support. Long live rock!— Review by Rob Brower | | | | Kaiser Chiefs - Employment | | | | June 2005 | | | | Pop-goodness. This English quintet, whose instrumentation includes keyboard, guitar, drums, bass, + singer, have a sound which hastens back to a new wave sensibility. Comparisons are unfair yet I would have to say they seem to be a more sophisticated version of the Strokes. But that's a good thing. Well worth the investment. Keep up the good work, laddies! — Review by Rob Brower | | | | Raveonettes - Pretty In Black | | | | June 2005 | | | | Most interesting. Sune Rose Wagner writes songs which combine elements of 50's rock-n-roll + doo-wop with a modern cool. Placid, serene, + sublime. Quite a mood setter. Enjoy it with friends. Rave on, Raveonettes! — Review by Rob Brower | | | | Sleater-Kinney - The Woods | | | | June 2005 | | | | Yeah!
Crank it the fuck up +
watch what happens. Anyone who knows the grls knows they are one of the best, most unique sounding trios going. Angular riffs combined with subtle harmonies make S-Ks sound wholly their own. Carrie rips it up. Janet wails + who can forget Corin's adorable shreiking falsetto. I'm so blown away I can hardly stand it. — Review by Rob Brower | | |
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