I didn't really pay attention to this guy before but one of his songs came on my last.fm radio station, and I enjoyed it. What's essential if anything? Doesn't seem like he's been relevant since 01ish.

I think most will say his best solo effort is One Mississippi, but my favorite of his is actually Lapalco.

Lapalco is best.

I think One Mississippi and the third one are a little boring. He is pretty good live.

Good album. I'll try to upload this for you Tanner.

File Under: Indie Guitar Pop

I only have "Lapalco" and "Alternative To Love".

He's like so many bands that have a few keepers on each album and the rest filler IMO.

I can probably put together a best of from those 2 albums but it'd only be about 8, maybe 9 songs.

Alternative To Love sounds way more polished than anything that came before it and front loaded with the first 4 songs being good and then a big drop off.

Guy can write a hook though, just not for a whole album.

One Mississippis is greatness, in my opinion, but Lapalco is a close second...Alternative To Love is good in a way that New Pornographers - Challengers is good (i.e. not great, but a fun listen if you are in the right mood)

He's been in this little band called The Raconteurs.

His latest is solo album is My Old, Familiar Friend

sidenote, our very own nico is playing drums in his band.

You know he's the non-Jack White half of the Raconteurs, right? I think he sucks. I owned both One Mississippi and Lapalco and traded them both back. I would consider a meh rating to be overrating both. Boring, predictable "power" pop. In fairness, he has a lot of fans here though.

lapalco is fucking brilliant. all of the other albums are hit/miss with usually 3-4 top-notch songs front-loaded with filler on the tail. i know jason falkner's touch is all over lapalco, but i'm not sure if he's credited on any others.

also, i'll cosign the "he is pretty good live" note. the first time i saw him was one of those instances where an opener just blows your mind. you go to a show, have no idea who anyone aside from the headliner is, and during their entire set you're like, "this is amazing." however, he was opening for the white stripes at the time and they just absolutely slayed. i mean, people were dragging their jaws on the floor after their set that night. the other times i've seen him he's been very good, as well.

Like him more in the Raconteurs than his solo albums though I'll admit to being a pretty big Lapalco fan at one point.

Paging Phil A. to thread, please, Phil A. to thread.

Ive bee aware of him and know he's in the raconteurs. Still didn't pay attention to him. I think I heard a song a long time ago. Maybe on a CMj sampler.

This thread has got me downloading Lapalco, but I'm not expecting much. To me, he's one of those "CMJ artists" - y'know, music from the early 2000s that people new to this whole indie trend got hyped over at the time.

One Mississippi reminded me of that first Fastball album. Alternative to Love had one great song ("Spit It Out") and a bunch of filler. The newer one, My Old, Familiar Friend, sucks balls so hard it would impress professional ballsuckers.

First listen to/simultaneous review of Lapalco:

"Tiny Sparks" - This is what I expected. Not overly awful, but it's power pop without the power, which isn't power pop goddammit. It's the same kind of toothless shit that's featured each year at the International Pop Overthrow. Makes Shaun Cassidy comparatively sound like GG Allin.

"Metarie" - He definitely benefits from slowing it down. When did this album come out - 2002? Yeah, back in those days this would've been described as "lush".

"Folk Singer" - This song appeared on almost every CMJ board mix back in the day. Never cared for it. Mid-tempo, faceless, adequate, almost succeeds at rocking... I'm liking it less and less as it continues on.

"Life in the D" - I have an immediate dislike of this song. The singsongy melody just makes me impatient, and his blatant Lennon imitation in the vocals is pissing me off. Oh god, the lyrics just made me stab myself.

"Good to Me" - At this point I've forgotten why I get any joy from music whatsoever. Do some artists care or maybe even try? That would help.

"You're Quiet" - Awful synth line. Awful melody line. Holy christ I hate this too.

"What" - This one is considerably better. The chorus could've been stronger, but the verses are pretty cool. I might even listen to this again one day.

"Eventually" - May I just point out that this is one of the dullest selection of song titles I've ever encountered this side of an Alice In Chains album? Anyway this song improves hugely once the slightly gritty guitar enters... goddamn, it's already gone. Oh, that's the chorus. Good chorus. Meh verse. Bad bridge.

"I'm Easy" - Uh oh, now he's trying to rock FER REALZ. His vocals sound like he's bored.

"Pleasure Seeker" - I don't mind this one either, but it starts wearing out its welcome around the 1:30 mark when the chorus proves its going nowhere.

"Just Like Me" - Kill me.

"Jet Lag" - Yeah, this is for the type of people who think Jellyfish was power pop. I wish I'd been able to download back in 2002, it would've saved me from spending money on Alternative To Love.

Blech

CMJ/Obner FAIL

Sickman is down in a hole with a rooster and them bones.

This is my favorite song on the album.

So, fuck off I guess?

Obviously, we can never be friends.

Yep..Yep...Yep...Yep.

fuckin a awesome, good for her

I liked Lapalco and a few other songs beyond, but his other dabblings are hit and miss, he does have a pop knack that kicks just right on times just not enough for me to follow but merely stay tuned

Metarie is fantastic. Like painfully fantastic.

I really liked his new one "My Old, Familiar Friend".


Pure power pop.


If you liked his older work then you'll probably like this too.

Billyg and rads are a tad more negative than me, but nothing great about him. A few good hooks but pretty much completely forgettable.

I've so overplayed Metarie, every damn version I could get my hand on.... Love that song.

I liked him the raconteurs but don't think I'd search out his own stuff.