May 2006 Archives

Robert Boyd: Xanadu
On view at Participant, Inc. through May 14.

By Mikal Saint George

Apocalypse - though definitely not inevitable - does have an alarming number of proponents. They wear many costumes. Robes and turbans - sometimes even the blue of Nostradomasus' now famous vision. Some are military uniforms displaying a kind of haute couture chic reminiscent of Mugler at his fabulous '80s zenith. Most chillingly they are often Hugo Boss suits and more and more -- Levis in the suburbs. In Robert Boyd's XANADU we are reminded that atrocity happens not with random acts of disorder but with the agreement of many and the willingness of not only the aggressor but to a weird degree- the victim. Savior is easy, almost cheap. But destruction is so much darned fun - not to mention profitable. Keep in mind death will most likely come on a dance floor.

By Ross Whitsett

The creation of music with absolutely no boundaries and complete creative freedom from a major music label seems absurdly beyond comprehension. However, two of the most well known bands within the Indie Rock world are ironically on the corporate Warner Brother's music label. Both Built To Spill and The Flaming Lips are the vanguard of a niche market, and there is some possibility for profit, the bands are given free range for their studio albums. Built To Spill, while at times light hearted, is primarily no nonsense, and just about the music; The Flaming Lips seem to bask in the glory of their oddity, and to be honest with you, have been letting their critical praise go to their head a bit too much.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Roseland Ballroom, May 2, 2006
By Terry Roethlein

Before Karen O started singing "Gold Lion," the current Yeah Yeah Yeahs single, on May 2 at Roseland, she rearranged her red and purple Christian Joy getup so that a piece of glittery fabric hung over her face like a Muslim hijab. Only a minute later though, and her face reemerged. The newly mature Karen O seems a lot less playful.

Two years ago this refreshingly reckless, positive pixie opening for Devo in Central Park showed up on stage in the rain, grinning like a four-year-old smeared in Mommy's lipstick, twisting her rain poncho into knots, and throwing herself into her stage work with the fervor of a jihadist. At the first of two New York shows supporting the new album, "Show Your Bones," there was a lot less artful draping of costumes, no dousing with beer backwash, and certainly no more stage dives. According to interviews, she is tired of the drinking injuries and is now much more serious about being the one responsible for shaping the band's newly cleaned up, potent band of dance/punk. It shows. Backed by the very gifted guitarist Nick Zinner, ballsy drummer Brian Chase, and an extra touring guitar, the band pounded out most of the songs from the heavier, slightly psychedelic current effort in just over an hour--no muss, no fuss.