Best Live Band of 2008: Nine Inch Nails

This one was pretty much the hardest category to choose. I was fortunate enough to see dozens of amazing bands this year, and they sure did make this one big ole bastard of a tough choice, which is why I have about a billion Honorable Mentions. But in the end, I'm pretty happy with my final decision.

I can officially state, for the record, that Nine Inch Nails just might be the best live band out there these days.

This year I saw Mr. Reznor and co. twice, one at the Virgin Festival in Baltimore in August, and again in Charlottesville last month.

I've never been a huge NIN fan (which I'm working on correcting), but each time I've seen them I've been totally blown away. They're incredible live. As in, jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring, ass-kicking incredible. It's not just that the music sounds so perfect, which it most certainly does. It's more than that. When you go to an NIN show, you're getting a total concert experience. The Charlottesville show was especially elaborate, a bonanza of fancy lighting and unique stage settings. Nearly every couple of songs, the stage setup and lighting would be rejigged to totally chage things up. And when it comes to showmanship, there are few people out there who can match the intensity of Trent Reznor.

Honorable Mention: The Stooges, Dead Confederate, These United States, Die! Die! Die! the Verve, the National, the Black Angels, Fleet Foxes, Spiritualized, My Bloody Valentine, Brian Wilson





[Photo by Megan Petty]

Megan's Top 18 of 2008 - #11 - Spiritualized

There are so few things one can actually count on in life. There's the inevitable, unpleasant things (y'know, death and taxes), and then, friends, there is Jason Pierce.

Ever since the days of the Spacemen 3, Pierce has been making his stratospheric space rock beautifully. He's a master at etherealism, adept at creating sonic symphonies more suited to another time and place. While he may tinker with the formula every now and again, the song, in general, remains the same.

Latest effort Songs in A&E is yet another brilliant Spiritualized album. It's got that added appeal of being Pierce's first record since nearly dying not long ago, and the after-effects of that close shave lend new levels of fragility to the songs. J. Spaceman again focuses on some of his favorite subjects (fire, souls, souls being on fire), with much success. The album also features two of my favorite lyrics of, quite possibly, ever; "I've got a hurricane inside my veins", and "freedom is just another word/when you've no one left to hurt" (both from "Soul on Fire").

The orchestration is soaring, glorious, and the vocals are some of Pierce's best ever, in my humble opinion. Songs in A&E is a must, must, must listen.

Live Review: Spiritualized @ 9:30 Club, July 25

Catching my latest (fourth? fifth?) Spiritualized show was quite the last minute affair. After dithering and back-and-forthing all day I finally decided to make the trek up 95 to see Jason Pierce AKA J. Spaceman and whatever incarnation Spiritualized was taking on this tour, and I cannot express how happy I am that I did.

Things got off to a ferocious start, with the vitriol of “You Lie You Cheat” leading things off. Pierce, in his dark shades, white tee shirt, and skinny, possibly acid-washed jeans, was joined onstage by a trio of black-clad musicians and a pair of lady singers, all in white. This carried over the sartorial theme from their set at Coachella, though the musicians themselves were 99% new. The new configuration allowed for much more rocking out, as the extended shredding in “You Lie You Cheat” demonstrated. Shifting gears immediately, and bathed in heavenly blue lights, Pierce and co. launched into the ethereal “Shine A Light,” hands down one of the best Spiritualized songs of all time. It was perfect, the sound, the lights, one of those impeccable concert moments. His voice had sounded good out at Coachella, too, but I really noticed how strong Pierce’s voice was. Whereas on the latest album, Songs in A&E, you can hear some wavering, some breaking, some breathiness, tonight his voice was true and beautiful, sturdy yet with the ability to reach levels of beauty few can accomplish.

“Cheapster” was next, Pierce and his band in fine fettle as much rocking was performed. Even Mr. Pierce was not immune to tapping his feet while strumming his guitar. Another of my favorite Spiritualized, the frantic roller coaster that is “Electricity,” was next, the guitars nearly out of control with wickedness. I’d like to add at this juncture that if you don’t yet own the incredible album known as Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, you probably should go pick that up.

The sparkling and lovely “Soul on Fire” was next on the list, Pierce tenderly singing and backed by the gospel stylings of his dynamic lady duo. This song, and indeed most every other song in the set, definitely sounded the better thanks to those ladies and their giant voices. The lighting was great, very stylized and elaborate, and at one point I had this very strange flash of seeing the band in vintage matching suits, on the Ed Sullivan show or something. It was definitely the best lighting I’ve seen in quite some time. Up next was another new song, “Sweet Talk,” featuring some ace guitar virtuosity.

We were all rendered rapt when the band began “Sitting on Fire,” my favorite song from new album Songs in A&E. It sounded even more soulful, with the addition of the ladies and the lack of strings that highlight the album version. A huge treat was in store for us next, with an acoustic guitar-laden version of the Spacemen 3 classic “The Sound of Confusion.” I love how Pierce isn’t afraid of revisiting material from his previous band, and reworks the song so that it could almost be a completely different one. He stripped away all the distortion and fuzz and what emerged was glorious. The rest of the hour and a half set flew by in what seemed to be the blink of an eye. Song after song was a masterpiece. End-of-set songs like the heavy “Death Take Your Fiddle” and classic “Come Together” were particularly masterful and mind-blowing. The man is a marvel, truly, and I felt privileged to be in attendance.

It’s been a pleasure seeing Spiritualized several times over the years, as this is a band that is so amorphous and changes so often you never see the same show, or band, twice. Even tonight, despite the recent release of a new album, Pierce chose not to have the new songs dominate the set. Through all the changes, one thing remains the same: you’re always guaranteed the gig equivalent of an out-of-body experience. Or, as Pierce sings in “Soul on Fire,” it’s like having a hurricane inside your veins.

The good folks at NPR recorded the show, which you can listen to here. They’ve also posted the setlist, but there’s an error: song #8 was “The Sound of Confusion,” not “Walking with Jesus.” And the photo is a shot I snapped with my phone, of the ridiculously tricked-out Spiritualized tour bus.

Album Review: Spiritualized – Songs in A&E

The penultimate space cowboy, Jason Pierce (AKA J. Spaceman, AKA the one constant member of and driving force behind Spiritualized) has been making achingly glorious noise for some twenty-odd years now. Songs in A&E is Pierce’s first outpouring of new music since being hospitalized in 2005 with a life-threatening illness. Most of the album was written before his hospitalization, but you’d never know it. There is a whisper of death through the whole album, but also joy. It’s pretty much par for the course for a Spiritualized album in that regard, but the reality of Pierce’s near-death experience lends new weight to the album itself.

Interspersed by six harmonies (think of them as interludes), the twelve new Spiritualized songs are beautiful, heartbreaking, and well worth the wait. Pierce cooked up new depths to his trademark lovelorn despair, as well as some exceedingly lovely arrangements. That’s the thing about Jason Pierce, he’s not just the voice of Spiritualized, he’s also the (main) composer (not to mention the producer). He is the man behind the curtain, and you should definitely pay attention to this wizard.

Of particular note on Spiritualized latest space rock opus is a little trio of songs I refer to as the “Fire Trilogy,” otherwise known as “I Gotta Fire,” “Soul on Fire,” and “Sitting on Fire.” The first, “I Gotta Fire,” is frantic, loud, and a bit harried. Which, if you think about it, makes perfect sense. My favorite of the trilogy, “Soul on Fire,” is a lush soundscape full of lovely lyrics like “baby, you set my soul on fire/I got two little arms to hold on tight/and I wanna take it higher,” and “I got a hurricane inside my veins/and I wanna stay forever.” It is quite possibly one of my all-time favorite Spiritualized songs. “Sitting on Fire” is another new favorite, crackling with emotion and the occasional break in Pierce’s voice, potentially a side-effect of the aforementioned illness. The breaks actually work in J. Spaceman’s favor, lending further fragility to the bittersweet song.

Snapping you out of the depths of “Soul on Fire” comes the firecracker known as “Yeah Yeah,” featuring the vocal talents of the Dirtbombs and hearkening back to the early days of Spiritualized (and maybe even a ghost of the Spaceman 3). “Don’t Hold Me Close” is an ethereal duet with Harmony Korine’s wife Rachel, and the pair of voices float together beautifully.

All in all, Songs in A&E is a yet another great Spiritualized album. Kudos to Pierce for keeping up the good fight and giving us the gift of another collection of songs. I don’t think it’s too early to predict this one’s gonna end up on quite a few year-end “Best Of” lists. I can pretty much guarantee it’ll be on mine.