Well, needless to say, it's been a while since I've bothered to update this blog. There are a few reasons for that. The pertinent one is that I really haven't heard too many bands that are curling my toes, and therefore have just simply lacked the fire to put fingers to keyboard. But over the months, I've collected a few in my pockets that I'd like to share, so I'll see if I can get them up here in the next few weeks.
I'll start off with a lovely little band called Cults. Two weeks ago, the band released a 7" through Forest Family Records, a new label collaboration by the Gorilla vs. Bear guys and Weekly Tape Deck. And in a turn of events that proves beyond argument that, if you are a collector of the vinyl, you'd better be a quick motherfucker when it comes to snatching it up. The 7" sold out faster than hashish hotcakes. Luckily, you can still download all the songs for free on Bandcamp.
The A side, "Go Outside," is proof positive that we're entering another indie rock spring. This sweet, jangly, tinkling little confection that follows in the tradition of other recent retro-inspired pop acts like Best Coast, is bound to end up on a whole lotta sing-along road trip mixtapes. I've already road tested it on a trip down to San Diego and can say with confidence that it totally deserves a slot in the playlist. The song is turning up on a lot of blog lists, so I'm hoping demand will prompt a new issue of that 7".
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
1/7/10 - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Here's two things I'd like to get goddamn straight right now: I don't like hippies. And I don't like Ugly Betty. So, when you take a band that looks like a convoy straight out of Jonestown via Woodstock, and factor in the fact that I heard their most popular single when I accidentally fell asleep on the couch and woke up to the horror of Betty la Fea on my tv.
And on further research evidence, it turns out that the band was founded by Alex Ebert, late of the grating band Ima Robot, after he apparently lost his girlfriend and lost his damn mind in A.A. "Edward Sharpe" is a "messianic figure" he invented that was apparently sent to earth to save mankind, but got distracted by girls. One can only hope, considering all this grade-A hooey, that this is not his attempt at misunderstood autobiography.
But, there's a sliding scale for everything, and apparently, you can't always judge a hippie by the smell of his patchouli, a kind of creepy quasi-crazy by his rhetoric, or a good band by the crappy tv show or retarded car commercial they've been inclined to sell their song to in order to make at least one or two dimes a piece in this fucked economy. And you don't always have to like the mind to like the music. Fact is, my very thoughtful girlfriend made me a sweet little "hey, I like you!" style mix CD this Christmas, and "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is one of the first songs on it. It makes me feel all fluttery like a 13 year old at her first dance. And, you know? The rest of their music is pretty terrific as well.
It brings to mind, for me, one part Antonioni's failed psychadelic political opus "Zabriskie Point" and another part Polyphonic Spree (minus the colossal repetition, and plus actual structured songs). The comparisons with the latter are a little inevitable, given that the group dresses like a cult and has seemingly about 6000 members playing various instruments and providing lush choral vocal backing. They also fit snugly in that vast multi-cultural cinematic sweep that bands such as Arcade Fire and Beirut are bringing to the musical table. However, ES&TMZs pitch in a handful of caked-on desert playa and blistering dry heat. They are able to wrap their arms around you and bring you in, but are just as easily able to strand you in endless space without an oasis in sight. And it's all beautiful to me.
And on further research evidence, it turns out that the band was founded by Alex Ebert, late of the grating band Ima Robot, after he apparently lost his girlfriend and lost his damn mind in A.A. "Edward Sharpe" is a "messianic figure" he invented that was apparently sent to earth to save mankind, but got distracted by girls. One can only hope, considering all this grade-A hooey, that this is not his attempt at misunderstood autobiography.
But, there's a sliding scale for everything, and apparently, you can't always judge a hippie by the smell of his patchouli, a kind of creepy quasi-crazy by his rhetoric, or a good band by the crappy tv show or retarded car commercial they've been inclined to sell their song to in order to make at least one or two dimes a piece in this fucked economy. And you don't always have to like the mind to like the music. Fact is, my very thoughtful girlfriend made me a sweet little "hey, I like you!" style mix CD this Christmas, and "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is one of the first songs on it. It makes me feel all fluttery like a 13 year old at her first dance. And, you know? The rest of their music is pretty terrific as well.
It brings to mind, for me, one part Antonioni's failed psychadelic political opus "Zabriskie Point" and another part Polyphonic Spree (minus the colossal repetition, and plus actual structured songs). The comparisons with the latter are a little inevitable, given that the group dresses like a cult and has seemingly about 6000 members playing various instruments and providing lush choral vocal backing. They also fit snugly in that vast multi-cultural cinematic sweep that bands such as Arcade Fire and Beirut are bringing to the musical table. However, ES&TMZs pitch in a handful of caked-on desert playa and blistering dry heat. They are able to wrap their arms around you and bring you in, but are just as easily able to strand you in endless space without an oasis in sight. And it's all beautiful to me.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
12/23 - Oh No Ono
A couple of weeks ago, the SXSW 2010 organizers released their first 200 confirmed bands out of what will eventually grow to about 7 trillion for the festival. About three seconds after finding the link, I seem to have invited a few squirrels to live in my stomach the way it started twitching with nervous excitement. Time to bust out the spreadsheet! When do I start RSVPing for free day shows?! I need to buy a plane ticket and borrow a bike! I must have a plaaaaaannnnn!! But, yeah, that's a few months off, and I'm really hoping that even I can keep my anal retentive tendencies to over-schedule (and then eventually completely chuck all semblances of said schedule after about 4 free Southern Comfort and Pepsis at the Fader Fort) in check for at least another month or two.
In the meantime, I can at least build up some excitement for some of the far-flung bands that're already queuinig up to play for my enjoyment. One of those being the buzzworthy Danish lot, Oh No Ono.
Oh No Ono's been lounging around the Denmark music scene for several years now, and by all appearances have done rather well for themselves there, but with their recently released album at the end of this year, they are starting to generate a little hype Stateside, too. With a mix of pensive, plaintive indie finesse and an undertone of theatrical glam, it's hard to see how they could go wrong on the merit of that alone. But, on top of this, they seem to have infused their latest album with a much warmer, thicker tone. And they also have a real knack for making some WOW videos. Take, for instance, the below video for their single "Swim." The song is dreamy as hell, and the video both excites me and makes me profoundly uncomfortable. What lives in the minds of Danes, anyway?
And this one for "Icicles" is awfully pretty as well:
And for the sake of a more rockin' example:
In the meantime, I can at least build up some excitement for some of the far-flung bands that're already queuinig up to play for my enjoyment. One of those being the buzzworthy Danish lot, Oh No Ono.
Oh No Ono's been lounging around the Denmark music scene for several years now, and by all appearances have done rather well for themselves there, but with their recently released album at the end of this year, they are starting to generate a little hype Stateside, too. With a mix of pensive, plaintive indie finesse and an undertone of theatrical glam, it's hard to see how they could go wrong on the merit of that alone. But, on top of this, they seem to have infused their latest album with a much warmer, thicker tone. And they also have a real knack for making some WOW videos. Take, for instance, the below video for their single "Swim." The song is dreamy as hell, and the video both excites me and makes me profoundly uncomfortable. What lives in the minds of Danes, anyway?
And this one for "Icicles" is awfully pretty as well:
And for the sake of a more rockin' example:
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
12/16 - Best Coast
Hey fellas and ladies who scooped up all the copies of the Best Coast "Make You Mine" 45 before I could molest it with my grubby little Mastercard...well, thanks for nothing jerks.
My laptop, tired of just breathing through the (expensive) life support of a brand new hard drive, committed violent suicide last month and took all my music with it. So long old friends, I thought,waving goodbye, Golden Filter I will miss you most of all. I've decided to turn lemons into some wicked alcoholic limoncello and take the opportunity to spend MUCH MORE money on MUCH LESS music by almost exclusively exhausting my wallet on mail order 7" records from bands I either have written about or will one day write about right here. While I will say that waking up in the morning shuffling over to the turntable in my new onesie striped pajamas to drop the needle has been pretty nice (Baltimore's Teen Beat a Go Go album reprint, I'm totally looking at you my friend), I do miss the simplicity of my days as DJ Pressplay.
Had I a computer, for example, I might be waking up listening to Best Coast. Best Coast referring, of course, to the West Coast no matter what you Yanks may say to the contrary. Best Coast is a fairly recent product of Los Angeles - one of the many bands who've tenured in the hallowed halls of The Smell downtown (a puzzling venue for it's jankiness and all-ages utter lack of alcohol...boo!), and who will return there February 2nd as part of a tour with Brooklynites the Vivian Girls. If you like what you hear and just can't wait for that match-up, you can also catch them this Friday, December 18th at Spaceland with the excellent band Foreign Born. Best Coast is a boy girl duo - Bethany and Bob. Apparently, they met when Bob used to babysit Bethany. Being that Bob is a large Asian dude with straggly long hair, I have to smile imagining what his possible qualifications as a babysitter might have been. I give both of them an A+ as a band, though. I'm hoping that soonish we'll be seeing a full length from these up-and-comers.
Tell me this fan-made combination of "When I'm With You" and a scene from "The Young Girls of Rochefort" doesn't make you smile your cheeks off.
And here's a nice version of "The Sun Was High (So Was I)" live from a bathroom. Witness how gloriously the guitar reverberates off the bathtub filled with Budweiser!
My laptop, tired of just breathing through the (expensive) life support of a brand new hard drive, committed violent suicide last month and took all my music with it. So long old friends, I thought,waving goodbye, Golden Filter I will miss you most of all. I've decided to turn lemons into some wicked alcoholic limoncello and take the opportunity to spend MUCH MORE money on MUCH LESS music by almost exclusively exhausting my wallet on mail order 7" records from bands I either have written about or will one day write about right here. While I will say that waking up in the morning shuffling over to the turntable in my new onesie striped pajamas to drop the needle has been pretty nice (Baltimore's Teen Beat a Go Go album reprint, I'm totally looking at you my friend), I do miss the simplicity of my days as DJ Pressplay.
Had I a computer, for example, I might be waking up listening to Best Coast. Best Coast referring, of course, to the West Coast no matter what you Yanks may say to the contrary. Best Coast is a fairly recent product of Los Angeles - one of the many bands who've tenured in the hallowed halls of The Smell downtown (a puzzling venue for it's jankiness and all-ages utter lack of alcohol...boo!), and who will return there February 2nd as part of a tour with Brooklynites the Vivian Girls. If you like what you hear and just can't wait for that match-up, you can also catch them this Friday, December 18th at Spaceland with the excellent band Foreign Born. Best Coast is a boy girl duo - Bethany and Bob. Apparently, they met when Bob used to babysit Bethany. Being that Bob is a large Asian dude with straggly long hair, I have to smile imagining what his possible qualifications as a babysitter might have been. I give both of them an A+ as a band, though. I'm hoping that soonish we'll be seeing a full length from these up-and-comers.
Tell me this fan-made combination of "When I'm With You" and a scene from "The Young Girls of Rochefort" doesn't make you smile your cheeks off.
And here's a nice version of "The Sun Was High (So Was I)" live from a bathroom. Witness how gloriously the guitar reverberates off the bathtub filled with Budweiser!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
11/26 - Wolf Gang
Since I mentioned Wolf Gang's "Pieces of You" in the previous post, I have to add an entry for Wolf Gang himself. Unfortunately, the excellent Baby Monster remix has evaporated from both their and Wolf Gang's myspace players to make way for WG's new single "The King and All of His Men," which is good, but not nearly as sublime as "Pieces of You" in both original and remix forms.
Wolf Gang is most frequently compared to David Byrne in his vocal delivery, but what I really enjoy about his work is the layering of unconventional instrumental sounds under driving, catchy and memorable melodies. The almost banjo or mandolin-esque string sound that accompanies the vocal come-on to "dance to the beat now, honey, yeah!" in "Pieces of You" is exactly what makes a good pop song transcend to greatness. It's that creative instrumentation that is the cherry on top.
Here it is for your Thanksgiving pleasure:
Wolf Gang is most frequently compared to David Byrne in his vocal delivery, but what I really enjoy about his work is the layering of unconventional instrumental sounds under driving, catchy and memorable melodies. The almost banjo or mandolin-esque string sound that accompanies the vocal come-on to "dance to the beat now, honey, yeah!" in "Pieces of You" is exactly what makes a good pop song transcend to greatness. It's that creative instrumentation that is the cherry on top.
Here it is for your Thanksgiving pleasure:
11/25 - Baby Monster
I've been holding Portland, Oregon's Baby Monster in my headphones like a precious diamond for the last month - shining and shimmering brighter in my ears every time I give it light. Here is a rare example (for me) where you have a group who not only make their own popperfection, but also lend remixes to other artists and actually significantly improve those artists' original songs. To me, in a world where all electronic artists long to put their treatment to the dials on others' tracks, I find that remixes rarely pan for the gold in the heart of the originals, polish it to a radiating glow and nestle it in a display of their own making (where the point of the display is to feature that gold rather than swallow it) in the way that Baby Monster manages to do with both Ellie Goulding's precocious "Under the Sheets" and Wolf Gang's already excellent "Pieces of You."
Additionally, though, Baby Monster shines on their own original songs - as seen in spades in their recently released first single "Ultra Violence and Beethoven." It starts off like a lost MGMT anthem, but spirals off into a moody falsetto chorus (yeah, really - moody AND falsetto)that feels like a vitamin shot. In the first days of crisp Fall, it's like the last gasp of Summer.
If I sound like I'm speaking in a lot of hyperbole, that may be the case, but I see big things ahead for this group.
Now, if only so many of these groups would kindly make their singles available in the US at non-extortion import prices... You can purchase "Ultra Violence and Beethoven" in a nifty turquoise vinyl 7" from Pure Groove in London, but it'll cost you about $14 to get it from there to your record player if you live Stateside. As of yet, none of Baby Monster's remixes or originals are available via any of the conventional download sources. The one saving grace of ordering from Pure Groove, however, is that they usually limit the production of the records to a few hundred, and often (as in the case of my recent Marina & the Diamonds "Mowgli's Road" 7") they will even come signed by the band/singer. So if you're going to spend the money, you may as well spend it with a shop that cares about good music and the people who listen to it.
Additionally, though, Baby Monster shines on their own original songs - as seen in spades in their recently released first single "Ultra Violence and Beethoven." It starts off like a lost MGMT anthem, but spirals off into a moody falsetto chorus (yeah, really - moody AND falsetto)that feels like a vitamin shot. In the first days of crisp Fall, it's like the last gasp of Summer.
If I sound like I'm speaking in a lot of hyperbole, that may be the case, but I see big things ahead for this group.
Now, if only so many of these groups would kindly make their singles available in the US at non-extortion import prices... You can purchase "Ultra Violence and Beethoven" in a nifty turquoise vinyl 7" from Pure Groove in London, but it'll cost you about $14 to get it from there to your record player if you live Stateside. As of yet, none of Baby Monster's remixes or originals are available via any of the conventional download sources. The one saving grace of ordering from Pure Groove, however, is that they usually limit the production of the records to a few hundred, and often (as in the case of my recent Marina & the Diamonds "Mowgli's Road" 7") they will even come signed by the band/singer. So if you're going to spend the money, you may as well spend it with a shop that cares about good music and the people who listen to it.
Friday, November 20, 2009
11/20 - Flashback Friday: Altered Images
Since I posted a Daily Bomb on the under-the-radar band Koko Von Napoo a few months ago, their vocal similarity to Altered Images' Clare Grogan (one of the best looking Brits of 80s New Wave, see below) has gotten me to blow the dust off my old Altered Images records and incorporate them regularly into living room dance parties.
It's pretty amazing how relevant some of these tracks still sound today. The band did a nice job of straddling pop and punk - with Grogan's distinctive love-it-or-hate-it voice assuring that they would never veer too far into the disposability of the former. The group disbanded in the late 80s after a modest string of successful singles, but have recently taken the occasional 80s revival tour opportunity with the likes of ABC and the Human League. And Clare's still damn foxy.
Here's a few videos to brighten your Friday.
It's pretty amazing how relevant some of these tracks still sound today. The band did a nice job of straddling pop and punk - with Grogan's distinctive love-it-or-hate-it voice assuring that they would never veer too far into the disposability of the former. The group disbanded in the late 80s after a modest string of successful singles, but have recently taken the occasional 80s revival tour opportunity with the likes of ABC and the Human League. And Clare's still damn foxy.
Here's a few videos to brighten your Friday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)