Mars Needs Guitars

New Music Releases - 09-29-09

2009-09-30T20:10:00.002-04:00

Serious bad day yesterday, so no post. Was and still am very upset about something that happened and was said to me. I guess I deserved what I got. All I was trying to do was express my opinion. Sometimes wonder if this is all worth it or if anything is worth it. Sometimes wonder how I make it through each day. The post below took me a whole day (today) to do, I needed to keep my mind off things. Don't know what else to say. Here are new releases from Zero 7, Maps, Drummer, The Ettes and 7 Worlds Collide. I hope some of these are new to you and that you enjoy this post.

- Merz

Euro duo (Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker) aka Zero 7, return for 2009 with their fourth proper release titled Yeah Ghost. Originally a "downtempo" duo, Zero 7, have over the years, transformed themselves into neo pop dabblers. The album has a very strong production sheen and includes various guest vocalists, plus a decent rhythm section. However, at first listen, the album does not appear to tread any real new ground. I guess what I expect from the duo, at this point in their career, is a little more experimentation and the effort to stray outside the conventional boundaries of this type of music. Overall, I don't want to give the whole LP a totally negative review. It does serve a purpose, which is done well, to provide nice reflective "background" music. Maybe, that is not what the duo attempted to achieve but, in my opinion, that is what it is. For the most part the songs vary but are all classic takes on the pop spectrum of music. There are songs of straight pop, soul, electronica of course, and even a dab of folk. I purposely picked a track that has not been "hyped" as one of the best on the LP, just to be different I guess. "Sleeper" is a shot at a classic pop sound, complemented by newcomer Eska Mtungwazi vocals mixed with a nice backing track plus a repetitive but effective refrain. Overall, the music is not bad, not stellar but done effectively enough to please fans who desire a mellow ride. Hopefully, this is just a stepping stone to future Zero 7 music that stretches beyond its self induced limitations.

mp3 Sleeper

Zero 7 - Yeah Ghost (2009)

Following on the heels of 2007's Mercury nominated We Can Create, Maps (aka James Chapman) returns for 2009 with Turning The Mind. We Can was a great LP with its heady mix of Shoegaze and dream-pop influenced music. It was a mix of dreamy rock and atmospheric electronic music not unlike, at times, the music of Spiritualized, Chapterhouse, and Ulrich Schnauss - to name a few. On Turning Chapman takes a slight turn in direction, trading guitars for a more electronic sound to the songs on the LP. There are hints to a more personal feel to the lyrics, alongside a more aggressive sound, not found in previous works. What I like best about Maps work is that he is a "homegrown" musician and never afraid to face his feelings in his songs. However, it seems that overall Turning marks the start of more "upbeat" music for Maps. Chapman is incredibly talented and shows an increased mastery in his music. It may be more electronic based but it still boasts a huge wall of sound, all courtesy of synths, electronic loops and the escalation of a track to a heady finish. "Love Will Come" showcases the new sound pretty well and hails as one of the most upbeat songs in his career. This is good pop music by a very understated artist of this decade. Check it!

mp3 Love Will Come

Maps - Turning the Mind (2009)

Drummer is quite a unique project, comprised entirely of a group of Ohio based drummers. Led by Patrick Carney of the Black Keys (who plays the role of bassist), the band also includes: "Jamie Stillman of Teeth of the Hydra on guitar, Jon Finley of Beaten Awake on vocals and guitar, Stephen Clements of Six Parts Seven on keys and vocals and Greg Boyd of Ghostman and Sandman on drums". Wow, and all these guys are drummers in the bands noted above. What a project! And for a band comprised of drummers, these guys have put out some seriously good rock/pop indie music on Feel Good Together. There is nothing seriously "new" or "reinvented" on Feel Good but it's still a stunningly strong effort. Everything is happening here, culling from the roots of punk, new wave, folk, prog-rock, and damn even a touch of Shoegaze. The songs are filled with enthusiastic guitars, cantankerous keyboards, tight drumming (of course) and resounding, echo enhanced vocals (that's where the Shoegaze part comes in). "Lottery Dust" opens the album and easily sets the stage for the rest to come. It's a prog-rock inspired song, by way of its guitar and keyboard flourishes that are layered between fetching riffs and drummer Greg Boyd's cavorting beats. Cool!

mp3 Lottery Dust

Drummer - Feel Good Together (2009)

The Ettes are from L.A. and their music is right up my alley. The trio: vocalist, guitarist Lindsay "Coco" Hames, drummer Maria "Poni" Silver, and bassist Jeremy "Jem" Cohen are know for their own blend of pop wiles and garage rock skills. Their third and latest LP, Do You Want Power, shows the band maturing and widening their garage rock sound. Produced in Nashville by modern-day garage rock hero Greg Cartwright, Do You has "a modern, in-your-face sound with less reverb and more punch". The band is incredibly tight and tough on this LP, a change from their earlier, noisier sound. This time around Coco's vocals are more refined and equally more powerful than ever before. Overall, this is some of the best garage rock you will find these days and is the definitely the bands best effort to date. "Blood Red Blood" is one of the standout tracks on the LP, which holds itself as some of the best garage rock/punk for the twenty- first century. Get it!

mp3 Blood Red Blood

The Ettes - Do You Want Power (2009)

Neil Finn's lastest version of 7 Worlds Collide is beyond all measure, a supergroup of somewhat mind boggling proportions. Finn has selected Radiohead members Phil Selway and Ed O’Brien, almost every member of Wilco and Johnny Marr, to collectively contribute to this LP. Also contributing are KT Tunstall, Lisa Germano, plus a bunch of Australian and New Zealand artists. And, I am sure that there are more artist that I have not mentioned. The proceeds from the LP titled, The Sun Came Out, will go directly to Oxfam International.

I must admit that I haven't listened to the whole 2-disc compilation in its entirety. But, from what I've gathered it is a cohesive work filled with melodic pop gems. Exactly what you would expect from the heady mix of players involved. Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) contributes his touch of pop/alt-county to "What Could Have Been", a song that might have fit nicely on his latest Wilco (The Album). From my perspective, you can't go wrong with this one, especially with the artists involved but most importantly you will be helping a very worthwhile charitable organization!

mp3 What Could Have Been

7 Worlds Collide - The Sun Came Out (2009)

[New MP3s] Meth Teeth, At Swim Two Birds, A Grave With No Name, Sun Araw

2009-09-28T22:05:00.002-04:00

Meth Teeth are based out of Portland and there sure doesn't seem to be a hell of a lot written about them. From what I've gathered they began as the one-man folk project of Mattey Hubele and Kyle Raquipiso later joined the band. So, a two man band I guess and they sure as hell can make quite a bit of noise. 2009 sees the band release their first full length Everything Went Wrong. There are only a few traces of folk here but what is evident throughout is some well executed lo-fi garage pop/rock. Touches of pop float by slathered with noise, jangled rhythms, and large guitar riffs. The vocals don't always come out even through the mix but who cares when the pop noise is delivered in such a nice dose. According to their MySpace; "the songs rely on simple ramshackle rhythms, upbeat shinny guitar interplay, and big fat chord churners, and a lot of tambourine banging away on the snare drum. Ultra catchy summertime rockers keep you sad and lonely, and upbeat and hopeful all at once". "Failures Selected By God" has a huge guitar line, cymbals, and showcases some cool aggressive lo-fi rock. Nice!

mp3 Failures Selected By God

Meth Teeth - Everything Went Wrong (2009)

At Swim Two Birds, apparently have been around awhile but this is the first I've heard them. And, once again, the MySpace page doesn't have any real information on the band to offer. From what I gathered, ASTB are from the UK and their latest LP is Before You Left. Roger Quigley is the man at the helm, solo as At Swim Two Birds and also under a band umbrella as one of The Montgolfier Brothers. This is a unique album, one filled with sad but understated intimacy. I don't know how to adequately label this music, other than lo-fi dream pop. It is full of stark guitar lines, strings and thought provoking lyrics. It may, at times, be "sad" music but it is always underscored by beauty and calm. It's a redemptive, melancholic album embracing both sorrow and healing. RIYL - Arab Strap, Lee Hazelwood, Leonard Cohen, Richard Hawley, and Tindersticks. "The Night We Ran Away" is a sleepy, dreamy song that will have you longing to hear more. Pretty intimate stuff!

mp3 The Night We Ran Away

At Swim Two Birds - Before You Left (2009)

A Grave With No Name's MySpace page classifies them as grunge, country, and ambient which is actually pretty on par to what you will hear on their S/T E.P.. The London trio produce their very own version of grungy, melodic dream-pop. The band will be releasing their debut LP Mountain Debris in the U.S. on November 17th. Their S/T E.P. is full of mesmerizing, beautiful soundscapes. "Stone Setting" is a standout track with its blend of "spooked" Americana, freaky folk, electronic touches and ethereal vocals all coming together to create some very unique, hypnotic music. Freaky indeed!

mp3 Stone Setting

A Grave With No Name - A Grave With No Name E.P. (2009)

Sun Araw are from L.A. and their latest, third LP is titled Heavy Deeds. The music on Heavy is "stoner" psych-pop/rock (think Brightblack Morning Light). Damn, it's full of hypnotic, psychedelic, and intense sounds. Electric guitar wah wah, funky and bluesy bass, chants, and tambourines all collide into a heady, musical trip. "A psyched-out semi-dubstep beach party", I think you get the idea. "Get Low" is a stand out track, probably the most accessible on the LP, it's large, loud, and explosive. Cosmic stuff!

mp3 Get Low

Sun Araw - Heavy Deeds (2009)

[MP3s] Something Different - Dance And Electronic Music

2009-09-27T20:05:00.003-04:00

The title above is definitely appropriate for this post. As you may well know by now, from reading this blog, that I am a true Indie rock/pop guy. I love noise-pop, power-pop, psych-pop, garage rock, punk, lo-fi, the 80's, 90's indie rock/pop, 00's indie rock/pop etc. etc.. And, as always, I have been featuring/reviewing a lot of new Indie music in those sub-genres.

However, last night, I had some spare time and decided to use it by exploring the vast world of Dance and Electronic music. I love all kinds of music (not a big fan of Rap though) but do appreciate a decent Dance/Electronic/Remix song, now and then. There is nothing wrong in just wanting to let yourself go and be absorbed by the melodic beats of this type of music. To me, it is a whole new world of music to explore and it's always good to listen to something new/different. I'm not a big "club" type person (too old for that these days) but have some good memories of club dance/electronic music during the 80's. Yeah, I used to dance, drink and party in those days. Fun memories!

So, here are some tracks I ran across last night that I liked. I don't feel very "qualified", as I do in the Indie rock/pop world, to write an extensive review on these tracks. That will come when I get more familiar with this genre of music. I am pretty sure that a lot of you are familiar with these artists and their work. For me, it is totally a new exposure/experience. I hope you get something new out of this too. And, don't worry, I will be back to my Indie rock/pop roots after this post. However, this may turn into a "series" where I take one post, from each month's of posts, devoted to this type of music. There is all kinds of music out there today to be enjoyed, so enjoy!

mp3 Lack Of A Better Name

Deadmau5 - For Lack of a Better Name (2009)

mp3 Ddd

Wallpaper. - Doodoo Face (2009)

mp3 Feelings Gone (Feat. Sam Sparro)

Basement Jaxx - Scars (2009)

mp3 This Train (Feat. Voice & Ali Harter)

Wax Tailor - In the Mood for Life (2009)

mp3 Hold The Line Feat. Mr. Lex And Santigold

Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do (2009)

mp3 Silver Cruiser

Royksopp - Junior (2009)

[MP3s] The Love Story, New Radiant Storm King, The Daylight Titans, Iran, The Handcuffs

2009-09-26T21:00:00.006-04:00

Following up on their 2007's S/T release (recorded by famed Steve Albini), The Love Story return for 2009 with Mink. TLS, in my opinion, are somewhat hard to nail down. Mainly classified as slow-core/mood-core, the NYC band throws in touches of Shoegaze to further complement their music. While Albini is no longer at the helm for Mink, the band has not lost his influence to their song-craft. The whole LP plays in thirty minutes and is full of mesmerizing guitar parts, sparse but effective drumming, all complemented by singer Molly Donahue's lush vocals. The band effectively creates large walls of sound with subtle reverb. Yes, it is slow-core but it can easily penetrate your skin in nervous bursts of energy. Highly recommended!

mp3 Pyramid

The Love Story - Mink (2009)

Massachusett's New Radiant Storm King have been on the indie rock scene since 1991. The sometimes labeled noise pop trio have been through a lot over the years - band lineup changes, plus the demise of more than one record label. Admittedly, I am not as familiar with their earlier work but I really started to focus in on them with their 2006 release The Steady Hand. The Steady marked their seventh proper full length release and was a gem filled with edgy, dark noise pop that had a penchant to rock out in all the right places. It most certainly brought back the feel of 90's indie rock at its best. 2008's Drinking In The Moonlight marked their eighth proper release, once again on the Darla label. Drinking sees the noise pop trio embracing more of the poppy side of things. These are fresh, melodic tunes with an excellent production feel and all the pop hooks in the right places. These guys are solid and at the top of their game. You can't get much better than this when it comes to pure power pop/indie rock music. I highly recommend exploring their whole discography since there is a vast wealth of wonderful music hidden there. "Eraser" boasts huge guitars and proves that this band not only pops but can really rock too!

mp3 Eraser

New Radiant Storm King - Drinking in the Moonlight (2008)

When you talk indie music and Austin, Tx., it is easy to get lost in the sea of bands that exist there. Well, just the other day, I ran across Austin's The Daylight Titans. According to the quartet's MySpace page - "The Daylight Titans make mighty rock music for the people of Earth". The band took their name from a Vapors track off the 1981 LP Magnets. Their latest release is Boom And Chime and the band labels their music as post-punk power pop. Influences range from R.E.M., to The Replacements, and even to the Church. And, it's not hard at all to hear these influences come out in their music. These are "in your face" songs, with hard driven guitars, and racing tempos. The music transforms you back to the heydays of 80's indie rock. It's large driving rock, with a penchant for melodies all complemented by tight rhythms and piercing guitars. Just the way I like my rock 'n' roll. "Bathed In Light" is the album opener and, in my opinion, showcases the bands sound so effectively. Good stuff!

mp3 Bathed In Light

The Daylight Titans - Boom And Chime (2008)

Iran was born in San Fran in 1998 and was conceived "as the four-track bedroom-recording project of singer and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Aites". 2003's The Moon Boys was somewhat more accessible than the 2000's S/T debut. It was a unique meld of catchy pop overlayed with wonderful complements of noise. Aites effectively balanced pop constructs with noise and tape hiss. Creating a strong contribution to the lo-fi genre of music. Six years later, Aites returns with his new pop opus Dissolver with the help of; guitarist Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio), guitarist/bassist Peter Hoffman (The Mendoza Line), and guitarist Aaron Romanello (Grand Mal). The new LP marks a subtle change of course in Iran's compositions. Cutting away some of the dense noise of earlier releases, Iran embraces the more pop side of things. Some may be disappointed that Iran have shed some of their past leanings but the new direction marks a band evolving itself for the better. There are still intact some electronics and guitar workouts but the vast majority of the LP embraces a more direct approach to jangly, lush inspired pop/rock songs. "Evil Summer" appropriately closes out the album, being one of the standout tracks, its got pounding guitars and "it proves that Dissolver isn't the sound of Iran turning its back on its past, it's the sound of a band finding ways to be more complicated, and accessible, than ever". Nice!

mp3 Evil Summer

Iran - Dissolver (2009)

Chicago's The Handcuffs are vocalist/instrumentalist Chloe F. Orwell and drummer Brad Elvis with the additional help of bassist Emily Togni and guitarist/keyboardist Ellis Clark. 2008's Electroluv marks the bands sophomore release. The band received success and acclaim on their 2006 debut, Model For A Revolution, garnering them extensive TV and film placement. The band is known for their highly, melodic pop songs complete with unique twists and strong production. Electroluv provides sonic anthems and dazzling sounds that are not easily forgotten. The album successfully borders on the fringes of glam rock, it's edgy but also fun and quirky. Vocalist Chloe Orwell has a wonderful range of style and drummer Brad Elvis provides the always ready pounding beats. This is fun, catchy and at times sexy music. Closer "One More Song" is a perfect way to end this neat album, boasting stadium size guitar work and pounding beats. It is so hard to classify TH under any real specific genre. It's just really well executed pop music. And there is nothing wrong with that!

mp3 One More Song

The Handcuffs - Electroluv (2008)

New Music Releases - Week Of 09-22-09 - Part II

2009-09-25T22:18:00.001-04:00

Another decent week for new music releases. Here is part II for the week of 09-22-09.

Two years after releasing their debut Fourteen Autumns And Fifteen Winters, Glasgow's The Twilight Sad release their new LP Forget The Night Ahead on the Fat Cat Label. Forget further expands the sound that the band developed on their debut release. The sound is large, expansive and loud. James Graham's Scottish accent is stronger yet on this new LP. The guitar noise, pounding drums underscoring hidden melodies is in full force here. Influences can be felt throughout - Mogwai (whom they have toured with) and My Bloody Valentine to name two. These are moody and meatier songs that show a marked progression of the bands talent. There is still a trademark quality of atmospherics here but the songs deliver a moodier and more stout punch than before. From what I've read, TTS deliver large, loud, performances live. This is obviously intact in the visceral feel of their studio recordings. "The Neighbours Can't Breathe" is a loud, noisy tune with ringing guitars and (I think) a mellotron to further enhance the noise and drama of the song. Nice stuff indeed!

mp3 The Neighbours Can't Breathe

The Twilight Sad - Forget the Night Ahead (2009)

Islands were formed out of the ashes of the lo-fi band The Unicorns. Nicholas Thorburn (vocals, guitar, keyboard) and Jaime Thompson (drums) started Islands, whose main goal was to deliver a tighter production quality and focus on neo-psychedelic indie pop music. 2006's debut Return To The Sea was full of indie pop weirdness, taking the best of The Unicorns output and bringing forth a brighter sound with more classic arrangements. It moved effortlessly, from psych, to sweet pop pieces. 2009's Vapours sees the band still embracing various genres of music but have scaled back somewhat the quirky, pop weirdness of their debut. There is still the indulgence into sonic palettes, off kilter vocals, plus the use of synths and drum machine beats. But, overall this is a solid effort filled with melodic songs and tight hooks. "On Foreigner" provides enough emotion to actually sense some depth to it, complete with its twangy guitars and full scale vocal mix. This is indie pop done in a satisfying, clever way with its natural and organic feel!

mp3 On Foreigner

Islands - Vapours (2009)

On their 2007 debut, What's The Time Mr. Wolf?, London's Noisettes delivered stylish garage rock, soul, and the occasional touch of jazz. Singer Shingai Shoniwa, led the charge with her depth of effortless singing skills and backed by a tight, sharp band. Originality was the key to What's The Time. 2009's Wild Young Hearts marks the bands move to a major label. But, hey we can still classify them as Indie, can't we? Shoniwa is still the anchor and focal point of the band. Wild Young sheds some of the rougher, rock push of their debut for a more polished sound, complete with well honed, hooky songs. The album drifts through dance-floor beats, jazz spiked pop, and stylish sonic pop songs. The music is a collage of various influences but never comes off as overly derivative. "24 Hours" is an excellent track featuring a melancholic hook, maybe a more introverted song than most of the album's material but an important one nonetheless. Yeah, some may say Noisettes have sold out but listening to Wild Young we can assess that is the furthest thing from the truth!

mp3 24 Hours

Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts (2009)

Hallelujah The Hills was formed after the demise of Boston's the Stairs. On their 2007 debut, Collective Psychosis Begone, the Boston band produced a quirky but successful marriage of lo-fi indie pop, Neutral Milk Hotel's stylish "marching band music" and the wonderful pop sensibilities of Robert Pollard's (Guided By Voices) work. 2009's sophomore release, Colonial Drones, showcases the band still embracing their lo-fi aesthetic and flavors of this decades best indie music. As before, there is still that longing indie need, filled in by buzzing angular guitars, and a healthy dose of instrumentation (cellos, trumpets) to further enhance the music. The lyrics are sharp witted and at times humorous, thanks to lead singer/songwriter Ryan Walsh. The band has grown since their debut release and show more control of their broad but unique style. It's ambitious indie music, the slow but large build-ups, brass complements, string arraignments, and striking melodies. There is nothing to not like on this LP. "Oxus Pagoda" is an immediate melodic centerpiece, guiding smoothly along on a complement of horns. Hallelujah The Hills do proper justice to what we call indie music!

mp3 Oxus Pagoda

Hallelujah The Hills - Colonial Drones (2009)

Other Notable Releases:

Richard Hawley produces some of his best work on his latest release Truelove's Gutter. Hawley paints emotional soundscapes with his cinematic, melodic song craft. "Truelove's Gutter is a singular moment in Hawley's catalog that displays the maturity of all his gifts. It is quietly passionate, graceful, elegant, utterly moving, and unequivocally beautiful in its honesty and sophistication. He's realized an ambition here that is artful and singular".

mp3 Open Up Your Door

Richard Hawley - Truelove's Gutter (2009)

Toronto's Spiral Beach return with their third LP The Only Real Thing. It's a multi-layered, wildly open affair, thanks to the band's self-possessed love of all things Bollywood. "We wanted to do something that was multi-layered and take from a Bollywood influence, like a collage-style of recording with things coming in and out of the mix. You don’t even know what they are and they’re all on top of each other in this fun mish-mash of styles. I think the Bollywood thing really meshed with the style we do anyway".

mp3 Cemetery

Spiral Beach - The Only Really Thing (2009)

On Sea Wolf's sophomore release White Water, White Bloom, bandleader Alex Church continues to sharpen his Americana styled songwriting. Church wrote the whole album alone and then enlisted an array of musicians to bring the work to fruition. The LP boasts both organic and orchestral compositions.

mp3 The Traitor

Sea Wolf - White Water, White Bloom (2009)

New Music Release - Week Of 09-22-09 - Part I

2009-09-24T21:17:00.001-04:00

Sorry, once again about the brief delay in posting. As usual, the Black Dog bit me real bad and I was down for the count. I would have blogged some about it but want to just stick to the music. So, back to the music and let's hope that Black Dog stays away for a long while...

San Diego's Castanets are appropriately labeled in a sub-genre called "freak folk". Their music has roots in folk, country, and experimental rock. The center-piece of the band is singer/songwriter Raymond Raposa. On their latest and sixth release Texas Rose, The Thaw And The Beasts, Raposa summons help from members of San Diego acts Rockets From the Crypt, GoGoGo Airheart, and Black Heart Procession to bring together Texas Rose. My experience with Castanets goes back to their 2005 release First Light's Freeze, which was their second LP, and was a quietly intense piece of music. Their experiments deliver a sonic palette blending a strange brew of country, folk, and electronic noise. Hence, the label, "freak folk". From what I've heard, not much has changed on their latest release Texas Rose. Raposa is still experimenting with his spacey blend of aforementioned genres of music, always keep mind to skirt the boundaries of conventional song compositions. "No Trouble" is a classic example, with Raposa's vocals mixing in the background of pounding drums, some synths, and the occasional guitar bursts disrupting the songs slow paced overall movement. Call it "freak folk", call it different, but it is something Raposa is doing that makes his music standout from the crowd of bands attacking similar genres, just not in the way he does it.

mp3 No Trouble

Castanets - Texas Rose Thaw & the Beasts (2009)

My love for Early Day Miner's music came about with their 2005 release All Harm Ends Here and the wonderful 2006 Offshore. Both years, EDM made my top 25 favorite albums of the year list. EDM described themselves as a "musical cooperative" and three years later they return with their latest The Treatment. What I like best about EDM's music is the way they transform their sound to, at times, a large scale cinematic sound. It is music filled with heart and melancholy embracing somewhat the "slowcore" genre and even at times flirting with hints of Shoegaze. The band is wonderful at mixing tones and rhythms that combine to give them a trademark atmospheric sound. On The Treatment their sixth in, EDM continues to refine their sound with long, epic songs that once again successfully manage to combine elements of "slowcore" with Shoegaze (check out "In The Fire"). The sound on their latest also marks a subtle change in style, bringing forth an attempt at embracing a more pop sound without fully shedding the atmospheric sound they have perfected over the years. Epic and expansive remain as the best descriptors of EDM's music. Check out "How To Fall" which so successfully contrasts the strength of atmosphere against the familiar traits of pop. A wonderful song that brings to mind some of the best that U2 offered us in the past. In the so ever vast world of atmospheric, athemic indie rocks bands we have today, it is nice to see one, like EDM, who defies the traditional template for a more unique, heartfelt style.

mp3 How To Fall

Early Day Miners - The Treatment (2009)

mp3 Errance

All Harm Ends Here (2005)

mp3 Return Of The Native

Offshore (2006)

Here is yet another indie pop band who received a ton of internet hype mainly because of the success of three well made videos. Their 2009 debut is simply called Album and Girls is comprised of two San Fran dudes JR White and Christopher Owens. Reportedly, White and Owens are big fans of Spiritualized’s Jason Pierce and his influence is felt all throughout the album. The album is "all over the place" - a trippy blend of California pop, surf rock, glam and straightforward indie rock. Shit, there are even Shoegaze waves of guitars used in and about this LP. Though, White and Owens mainly take a take a 60's pop aesthetic and rebuild it for today's generation. The nice thing about this LP is that from track to track you get something different. Girls don't stick to one style and beat it to death. From their brand of lo-fi songs, to dreamy love songs, to garage rockers - Girls never fails to deliver, all in a very successful way. This could have been your best summer soundtrack or, in this case, the end of your best summer memories. "Headache" follows the dreamy love song approach. It's an escape fantasy type song evoking both physical and emotional feelings. From the sounds of Album it appears that for once the hype is well deserved.

mp3 Headache

Girls - Album (2009)

[MP3s] Buildings Breeding, The Upsidedown, Parts And Labor

2009-09-19T20:00:00.001-04:00

This one has a lot of background behind it. From what I've gathered, frontman and founder Chris Larsen started the band as a way to reach out to his girlfriend (now band mate co-vocalist Melanie Glover) while she was abroad. Larsen created Buildings Breeding as a "fake" band which included its very own MySpace page. Essentially, a way for Larsen to keep in touch with Glover. Make believe or not, the "bands" music drew attention from Glover and many others. To take it even further on the absurd side, as a joke, Larsen sent his songs out to Mushpot Records who then promptly singed Buildings Breeding. The last thing in his mind was that this whole thing was going to go anywhere, much less being signed by a label. He scrambled and decided to put together a proper band. The band was officially formed in 2007 and a real five-piece emerged from what can best be described as an "inside joke". Wow, what a story!

From what I gathered on their MySpace page, the band had a S/T release back in '06/'07 and also a couple of EP's that you can pick up there. Also, during the last couple of years, the band has been playing their music live and perfecting their sound. In April of this year, BB released its first nationally distributed LP titled In The Key Of Calloused Fingers. The album compiles older material chosen by friends and fans, along with some newer songs. The songs on In The Key might be new to a lot of people nationwide but are very familiar territory for the band. The band is set to record new material and hopefully will enter the studio later this year.

Oh yeah and BTW, BB's sound is jangle pop confections supplemented by a wonderful mix of male/female vocals and a tight percussion section. It's catchy, feel good dream pop music. Let's hope BB continue to develop their obvious talented pop sensibilities and fulfill what appears to be a bright future.

mp3 Pushing Red

Buildings Breeding - In the Key of Calloused Fingers (2009)

I wondered what happened to these guys just the other day. Flip back to 2004 when these Portland dudes were on the Reverb Records label. Trust Electricity was their debut - a fuzzy, distorted, shoegaze LP that received fairly critical acclaim. Fast forward four years to 2008. The Upsidedown are on the Dandy Warhol's label now and have created a new path for themselves with Human Destination. Mowing a varying musical path between The Dandy Warhol's and The Brian Jonestown Massacre (no surprise), the band sheds their shoegaze affliction for a more straight forward neo-psychedelic groove. That's not to say it isn't experimental in its scope. There are fuzzy garage rocking songs, pure pop wonders, some danceable beats and also mellow tunes complemented by subtle, hazy guitars. In essence, it's all over the place and that is a good thing. Maybe there is a touch of derivative throughout, but damn it makes for a sweet journey. Btw, taste "Number Twenty Nine" a stellar pop song that begs for repeated listens.

mp3 Number Twenty Nine

The Upsidedown - Human Destination (2008)

And a cover of Norman Greenbaum's classic "Spirit In The Sky"

mp3 Spirit In The Sky

The Upsidedown - Trust Electricity (2004)

Another one I am late to the game with but well worth covering even now. This band is from Brooklyn, formed in 2002, and are on the excellent Jagjaguwar label. Parts And Labor have largely operated under the tag of being a noise rock band. But on their latest, 2008's Receivers, they stew up a heady mix of noise, psych, and pop transforming their music into new territory. What you get is powerful anthems, touches of prog rock, pop tunes peppered with a touch of psych and sonic flourishes, and an earnest effort to flavor their music with electronics. Despite the various labels forced on the bands music, they create their own vision of what rock 'n' roll should be. According to some press I've read, "before doing any recording, the band asked fans for audio samples and field recordings; they received hundred of sound bites and used every single one to allow a sense of inclusion". The result being a memorable album relying on a vast array of ideas and sounds. "Prefix Free" is one of many standouts, its an epic prog rock experiment, complemented by its rattling but focused slow build-up creating a layered, dynamic, and sonic soundscape. Nice!

mp3 Prefix Free

Parts And Labor - Receivers (2008)

[MP3s] Boston Spaceships, Andy Church, Gifts From Enola

2009-09-17T20:00:00.002-04:00

Shit, when it comes to really writing about Robert Pollard, I won't bullshit you - I wouldn't/don't know where to start or even end. Pollard is literally a music making machine, producing/releasing albums at more than a startling pace. He has been responsible for some of the best indie rock of the past three decades, namely through Guided By Voices (which disbanded in 2004) and his other numerous projects (Acid Ranch, Airport 5, Circus Devils, and the Takeovers) plus his own solo work. He also created his own record label, where he has released his most recent work on. I could seriously take a whole week of blog posts to attempt to cover all his endeavors but that wouldn't even be enough time. It is staggering to say the least.

One of Pollard's most recent projects is the band Boston Spaceships. In '08, the Spaceships released their debut Brown Submarine featuring John Moen of the Decemberists and the Dharma Bums and Chris Slusarenko of the Takeovers and Sprinkler. Brown didn't necessarily tread new ground but picked up nicely from GBV's peak period of music. And, it marked the beginning of a new and remarkable tight band. Take the track "Two Girl Area" which is a classic tuneful pop song, that only Pollard can pull off, intact with catchy lyrics. Wonderful stuff! Then comes 2009, which sees the Spaceships to deliver two proper LP's: Planets Are Blasted and Zero To 99, separated by an eight month period. And, let's not forget the two solo album's Pollard released in 2009: The Crawling Distance and Elephant Jokes. Four LP's in a year's time, AMAZING. Planets received rave reviews by critics, once again comparing it to GBV's output during their "golden era" but "with a grander sense of scale and drama". Pollard's songwriting craft is at its peak and the music carries an extra punch above his usual but excellent pop sensibilities. For example, take the track "UFO Love Letters" with its "Who" like qualities but only better. The album boasts fourteen excellent songs all packed into a tight 35 minutes. Incredible! Zero To 99, is set for release in October '09, and reportedly continues to see the band grow and Pollard having considerable fun with the Spaceships.

Explore Pollard's world of music, you won't be disappointed!

mp3 Two Girl Area

Boston Spaceships - Brown Submarine (2008)

mp3 UFO Love Letters

Boston Spaceships - Planets Are Blasted (2009)

Andy Church is another one of those guys who is a one man music making machine. On 2008's Sleeping In The Van, Church played all of the instruments on the recordings (except brass), handled the vocals, did the recording, and mixing. Reportedly, Church has been making music since the 60's. "Based in Connecticut, this singer-songwriter has a long career working in the industry both as a player and an engineer". The album is pop/rock with elements of southern blues and folk influences. Check "Imaginary Girl" with its strong instrumentation and poppy/catchy vocal hooks. Nice stuff indeed!

mp3 Imaginary Girl

Andy Church - Sleeping in the Van (2008)

Gifts From Enola's 2009 From Fathoms is the bands sophomore release and follow up to their successful debut Loyal Eyes Betrayed The Mind. GFE takes the well driven path of post-rock and stretches it outside its confining boundaries. The music is a sum of dark atmospheres, hard driven beats, and wailing guitars. The album boasts three guitarists who create huge walls of sound. No, this is not definitely just post-rock but rather experimental post-rock/prog rock. It's heady stuff that comes out of the starting gate with a wail and then culminates into a whisper. The track "Resurface" brings to the forefront of what the album wants to achieve, slowly moving forward into a fast paced explosion of post-rock enthusiasm via rising, chaotic guitar swirls, back beating drums, and all complete with intermittent vocals. Trippy stuff indeed!

mp3 Resurface

Gifts From Enola - From Fathoms (2009)

New Music Releases - Sept. 15, '09 - Part II

2009-09-16T21:50:00.002-04:00

Well, here is part II as promised. I pared it down from six to five. I am somewhat going "out on a limb" on this one because, quite frankly, I am not very up on these bands. But, when I weeded through the new releases list for this week, these intrigued me. As I said before, I don't have the funds to buy all these albums. So, don't expect to read below a long write-up review on them. And, in some cases, I had to rely on written reviews by others to get a better understanding of the music. This is important to know. Consider this an introduction to something new, which it is for me and hopefully will be for you. Also, my selection for the track posted was sort of haphazard at best. Thanks, to my Amazon and iTunes accounts, I was able to get a track for each. But, I am not sure whether these track selections are the best or fully representative of what the whole album sounds like. I will say, that I like each and every track that I picked. Well, here goes my, possibly considered, "lame" attempt at presenting these second five new releases to you. Enjoy!

All I really know about these guys is that they are from Seattle and they were formed as a band in 2008. Their music is described as atmospheric indie rock. Further descriptions say that their music incorporates a "spacious rainy neo-traditional pop-infused folk-rock aesthetic". Not surprising from the area's music scene that they hail from. Well, worth checking out further.

mp3 Running In Place

Black Whales - Origins (2009)

Well, since I was "out of the loop" during 2008, I know how I missed out on these guys. The Dodos received fairly critical acclaim with their 2008 release Visiter where the band described their music as "country-blues fingerpicking meets West African Ewe drumming meets metal meets indie pop sounds". Hmmm, interesting. The band formed in 2006 and their latest Time To Die is their third proper release. From all accounts the new release showcases the band taking a somewhat slower approach to their music and focusing on their pop sensibilities. The band still effectively skirts the edge of the indie rock mold. The track "This Is A Business" has a bluegrass feel to it, that is reported to be fairly consistent on the album but also actually rocks out at times. Another one that deserves more attention to.

mp3 This Is A Business

The Dodos - Time To Die (2009)

I am a little more familiar with this one since I heard their 2005 S/T debut. This Brooklyn based band are into both post-punk and psych rock, right up my alley. Their new one, Sunshower, is reported to be a collage of styles and influences - all the way from Disco, to punk, to reggae, to ska and to 90's college rock. According to the reviews I've read, despite the heavy influences the band does a good job of making it their own work. Check it!

mp3 Made In A Day

Jupiter One - Sunshower (2009)

On 2006's Centuries Before Love And War the indie rock quartet Stars Of Track And Field embraced the digital age, heavily using electronics and samples to augment their music. Shades of post-punk and straight forward indie guitar rock still shined through complemented by the use of electronics. It marked a new path for the band but a successful one. 2009's A Time For Lions also reportedly marks a change in the bands direction, back closer to the sound they started with on their 2003 Eponymous debut. They have effectively shed the electronic flourishes of their previous effort for a more straightforward rock sound. Reviews, I've read, vary on the merit of this change. Obviously, I need to hear the whole LP to make an adequate judgment. The track "End Of All Time" is pretty decent melodic song. Overall, worthy of investigating further.

mp3 End Of All Time

Stars Of Track And Field - A Time For Lions (2009)

Bay area based The Lovemakers produce a hybrid of indie rock mixed with dance friendly, disco laden music. Their latest second full length Let's Be Friends is "keeping with tradition, the songs range from the sweet melodic intensity of The Cure to the unapologetic ass-shaking of Prince". "The album boasts big, 80s narrative-driven pop songs instructed by plenty of dirty, gritty fun". The track "See What I Wanna See" is a highly danceable tune, worthy of merit. Sounds like a fun album!

mp3 See What I Wanna See

The Lovemakers - Let's Be Friends (2009)

New Music Releases - Sept. 15, '09 - Part I

2009-09-15T21:08:00.001-04:00

Wow, I was blown away when I started compiling a list of new music releases for this week (September 15th). Weeding through a master list, I found twelve that I thought were worthy of mentioning. Unfortunately, for me, I already blew my music expenses for this month and probably next month too. So, I can't afford to buy copies of these new LP's at this time. Sure, a lot of this stuff has probably "leaked" a long time ago and people have already been listening to it. But, I don't and never will subscribe to "leaked" music. It probably puts me behind the curve but so be it.

So, not hearing the whole album, it would be impossible for me to write a paragraph or two review on it. Therefore, what I've decided to do is blog the list in two parts with a intro sentence or two (maybe more), plus provide a track from the album. I am sorry that I have to take that approach but it is the only way to handle the situation. Thank God for Amazon mp3 or iTunes, where I can at least get a sample from these albums without breaking the bank. My hopes are that you will be exposed to something new and go out and properly purchase the albums you like. So, here is Part one of a two part series highlighting my selection of worthy new music album releases for September 15th, 2009. Enjoy!

Damn, I was blown away (again) to see that one of my all time favorite bands, New Model Army, had a new album. Shows you how much I keep up on these things. These guys have been going strong since the early 80's and are showing no signs of stopping. This is their 11th proper studio album and the band has a cult following that is keenly aware of their atmospheric, anthemic music. "States Radio" is all about classic NMA, a thundering hard driven track that encompasses all that is good about this band. I highly recommend anything in their back catalog. Also, frontman, Justin Sullivan has released some excellent solo work - most notably 2003's Navigating By The Stars. If you are not familiar with this band then get on the ball, do some research and dig in. You won't be disappointed. Damn, I wish I had enough money to buy this whole album....

mp3 States Radio

New Model Army - Today Is a Good Day (2009)

What the hell can I say about Muse that's already been said. This album has been in my top list of look forward too's for 2009. I've been a Muse fan since their inception. The Resistance marks their fifth album and it is chock full of "titanic guitar solos, symphonic suites, and multi-layered melodies". What the hell else would you expect from these guys? Listening to "Guiding Light", I was struck by its beauty and anthem like qualities. Not sure if it is representative of the whole album but I like it a lot. When listening to these guys it is hard to believe it is only a trio making all this music. Muse are known for their voyages into excessiveness but it always seems to come off right. Definitely, looking forward to digging into this one in its whole entirety.

mp3 Guiding Light

Muse - The Resistance (2009)

Ok, I won't lie, I was totally in the dark when it came to Grand Archives. Indie folk bands are not usually my forte. But, reading up on them what intrigued me was a band that had "a sound inspired by such '70s acts as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and the Eagles (complete with multi-part harmonies)". Keep In Mind Frankenstein is the bands second effort following on the wings of 2008's debut. "Lazy Bones" has a deep feel to it supported by ambient guitar and keyboards that help lift the vocals to the forefront. Nice, mellow music and one to investigate further.

mp3 Lazy Bones

Grand Archives - Keep in Mind Frankenstein (2009)

The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir are a quartet of indie popsters from Chicago. Go Figure. ...And the Horse You Rode in On is the bands third album. From what I've gathered the band has perfected their version of sweet, twee pop over the years. They are known for making "heavily narrative indie pop that's tender, tough, and funny". Sounds like a nice mix to me. "Sixteen Is Too Young" is a prime example with its balance between nice vocals, unique instrumentation and somewhat biting lyrics. Also, looking forward to exploring this album in its entirety.

mp3 Sixteen Is Too Young

The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir - ...and the Horse You Rode in On (2009)

Simon Joyner is another new exposure for me. He hails from Omaha, NE and "has been putting out delicate, intimate, mournful songs since 1993". Joyner's songs are sparse but filled with his delicate instrumentation and loneful voice. He gets some "backing to dark chamber folk dominated by Laraine Kaizer's intricate string arrangements". This is especially noted on the track "Ambulances" where the strings and harmonies create a unique atmosphere. Not 100% my cup of tea but sounds like something that could possibly grow on me.

mp3 Ambulances

Simon Joyner - Out Into the Snow (2009)

Danish band Slaraffenland's We're On Your Side is their third release. The band is noted for incorporating the human voice as an instrument to complement guitars, drums, keyboards, and horns. The band produces music that is highly experimental creating soundscapes that make a life of their own. I really enjoyed 2007's Private Cinema and my hopes are more of the same for We're.

mp3 The Right Place

Slaraffenland - We're on Your Side (2009)

[New MP3's] Here Holy Spain, Little Black Dress, Shibboleth, Impossible Arms, Americans In France

2009-09-14T21:00:00.004-04:00

Well here we are, digging back hard at it. Finding new music everywhere. Great fun and great stuff!

The first three featured here hail from my old "stomping" grounds - Dallas, Tx. They are all on the wonderful Dallas based Idol Records Label. These guys churn out some excellent local bands and are a respected indie music label.

Here Holy Spain is a trio that hails from Dallas and on their debut Manic they deliver what the indie kids call "slacker punk". On Manic, the band cranks full on blasts of banging rhythms and jarring guitar attacks. These guys bring back the grunge rock days in all its glory. The opening track "Trouble Is" brings to the forefront of what the band has in mind. It's an immediate and sharp lash of music, with no proper build-up, but rather (and all at once) a heady, crashing mix of vocals, guitars, bass and drums. The album title is a true testament to what follows on this LP. It is loud, strong and full of youthful angst. Definitely brings back 90's Texas "grunge" for 2009!

mp3 Trouble Is

Here Holy Spain - Manic (2009)

On their 2009 debut Snow In June, Dallas based Little Black Dress wear their influences proudly mainly paying homage to the fuzz/Shoegaze of bands like MBV, JAMC and Cocteau Twins. The hazy drone is wonderfully complete with the use of distortion and reverb. There are definitely strong hints of Shoegaze influences throughout the LP. The band is a collaboration between Nolan Thies and Toby Pipes. Pipes is most notably remembered for his work in the band Deep Blue Something which created waves with their hit single "Breakfast At Tiffany's". Pipe's new effort Little Black Dress treads on a sound that many new bands today are trying to resurrect and capture. LBD take a strong shot at it with Snow and end up doing an excellent job of it. I may be biased somewhat because Shoegaze, distortion, and reverb are something I love in music. And LBD does not disappoint in creating a sound that is both derivative of their influences but also incorporates a unique element to the music. Nice indeed and look forward to hearing more from these guys!

mp3 Snow In June

Little Black Dress - Snow in June (2009)

I must admit, that Dallas based Shibboleth are both a mystery and challenge to me. I have never been a huge fan of instrumental music, unless it is of the stoner psych rock genre, and on the bands second release Experiment In Error, I find myself having a hard time keeping up with all the various genres of music involved. However, this is not really a bad thing. On the bands MySpace page, they label their music as a hybrid of rock, surf, and comedy. A fitting label from what I hear in their music. If you take Experiment for what it is then you will have no problem liking this music. I won't try to describe this music but will share a quote from a review done by Jack Rabid over at The Big Takeover Magazine - "Experiment is modernly-produced, vintage fun from all over the spectrum, with happy organs you used to hear at sports arenas, the western-guitar rock of the Duane Eddy and the Shadows, bits and pieces of spaghetti Western films, lot of Henry Mancini (the Walkin’ Baby Elephant” kind) “Music To Watch Girls By,” Tex-Mex, and shades of Alpert, The Cars/Devo, and a primary 80’s precursor, Wall of Voodoo". I think Jack sums it up quite nicely. And, if you listen closely, there is humor all throughout this LP - take the track Bill Cosby as a prime example. I give Shibboleth a lot of credit for putting together a package of music that is so heavily influenced but so unique in its own right. They have won me over, that is for sure!

mp3 Bill Cosby

Shibboleth - Experiment In Error (2008)

Ripped In No Time is the debut from Carrboro, N.C.'s Impossible Arms. The LP is a tight 35 minutes long but is hooky, has psych out moments and a wonderfully muddled mess of guitar drone. Highly recommended if you like the works of Dinosaur Jr., The Misfits, and The Minutemen. Yes, there are strings and keyboards used but don't be fooled this is guitar rock all the way. Once again, for many of the bands I review, Impossible Arms is no different - sure they wear their influence proudly but they also create a sound that is both fresh and unique to them. This is indie guitar rock at its finest, set in a tight package which reveals more and more upon repeated listens. There are no gimmicks here - what you get is a dynamic, well executed piece of music. Check out the hammering, tight "Nowhere At All" and I think you might just be convinced. A real grower of an LP!

mp3 Nowhere At All

Impossible Arms - Ripped In No Time (2009)

Chapel Hill's, N.C. Americans In France latest LP Pretzelvania is a quirky, playful album that obviously does not take itself too serious. This is not a bad thing as long as it is done right. The LP is spotty at times but is greatly enhanced by its lo-fi production qualities, fuzzy guitars and boy/girl vocals which give it the status of a worthwhile effort. The band tries to take a Sonic Youth approach of making noise into music and overall they succeed nicely. The music is both well versed and frantic at times, something that is not that easy to do in the post-punk genre. One of the LP's more tighter tracks "Turkey Fever" possesses a loose, noisy sound keeping the listener engaged along the way. Americans In France are a classic post-punk noise band with a somewhat creative sense of humor. As long as they don't lose that unique charm, they should succeed quite nicely!

mp3 Turkey Fever

Americans In France - Pretzelvania (2009)

Crash! Bang! Boom!

2009-09-13T22:05:00.003-04:00

Image From Here

Shite David, its been a whole week where the hell have you been?

Sorry, I haven't been around here in a week. Suffice it to say, things got bad for me the past week. My illness is bad and it effects my functionality at all levels. There are days or weeks that I will be able to be "semi-functional" and then there are times that I will be laid up in bed 24/7. This past week the depression kicked hard and then I encountered some serious physical problems. To make a long story short, some new meds I was taking caused my blood pressure to drop really low. I put "two and two" together and decided it was the new meds doing it, so I stopped taking them. However, the problem didn't go away immediately. I saw my Dr. on Wednesday and my BP was still extremely low and my kidneys were starting to go into shutdown mode. I have damaged kidneys to start with and this only aggravated the problem. So, per Doctor's orders, I was shipped off to the Hospital Emergency room. They put me on IV fluids and did a bunch of tests. Thankfully, my BP started to come back up and my blood work revealed that my kidneys were functioning better. I was let go after about six hours in the ER room (thank God they didn't insist on keeping me overnight). My Doc said I was very lucky that I stopped those new meds Tuesday night or else I might have gone into full kidney failure.

Well, I have spent the last few days in a complete funk. The depression got a hold of me real bad but thankfully, I am physically ok. Just today, I got myself back into "semi-functional" mode.

So, that's where I've been and what I was up to the past week. Sorry for the long-winded story and for all the gory details but I felt it would be helpful to explain my whereabouts and also helpful for me to get it off my chest.

I was on a good streak there for awhile, into some new music and enjoying writing about it. And, that is what I am going to get back doing starting tomorrow. So, expect some new stuff you haven't heard and we will get ourselves back immersed into the wonderful world of indie music. Thanks for tuning in and bearing with me - normal programming will be in effect tomorrow. Peace!

mp3 Crash

Gary Numan - Dance (1981)

mp3 Crash

Ether Aura - Crash (2005)

mp3 Bang

Tripping Daisy - I Am an Elastic Firecracker (1995)

mp3 Bang Bang

Squeeze - U.K. Squeeze (1978)

mp3 Boom

The Prostitutes - Hometown Zombies (2009)

mp3 Boom Boom

James - Hey Ma (2008)

[MP3's] Greg Hoy, The Mandrake Project, La Snacks, Green Palm Radiation

2009-09-06T21:00:00.005-04:00

Greg Hoy's most recent outing is appropriately titled Feel The Crunch!. A sheer master at infectious power-pop, Hoy is a one man cranking music machine. On 2006's Tastemakers & Heartbreakers, Hoy made a full-on, catchy, tight power-pop record all by himself. He manages to create music that sounds like it is coming from a quartet rather than just one person. An amazing feat. 09's Feel has Hoy back at it again and in fine form. The album has the Brooklyn based music wizard producing a somewhat more heavier sound than before but all the key elements are still in place. Wonderful harmonies rolled out over tight and crunchy guitars stands as the hallmark of this LP, producing some of the best power-pop you will hear these days. Take the rock and rolling "I'll Take The Blame" and you will definitely be convinced. "One guy gets in a room and lets it all out with microphones and tapes running. Feel The Crunch!". Amazing stuff!

mp3 I'll Take The Blame!

Greg Hoy - Feel the Crunch! (2009)

Pittsburgh, PA's based The Mandrake Project is a super-group that are very hard to pin down regarding their style of music. I guess, the best label for their music is cinematic chamber rock. On their second proper release, A Miraculous Container, the band combines elements of classical, jazz, psychedelic, world and ambient rock to create visual, atmospheric soundtracks for the mind. The band is composed of dedicated multi-instrumentalists who show their love across the genre spectrum of music. The LP is mainly instrumental, with a few tracks featuring vocals. "The result is a larger than life exposition in sonic exploration…one that will uncover varying nuance and experience with each listen". The Mandrake Project produce music that takes you on a seamless journey through many different styles of music. The result reveals something new with each listen and is a joy to the ears!

mp3 A Miraculous Container

The Mandrake Project - A Miraculous Container (2009)

La Snacks is a five piece from Austin, Texas who were formed in 2004. On Newfangled, their second record (and self released EP), the band has a sound that is a throw-back to 90's indie rock heydays. It's a tight but loose, at the same time, sound with gnarly guitar chords and a tight rhythm section. The band adopts a "less is more" approach to their music and it is a stunning success. "Jackson 88" is a classic La Snacks tune, with its sweet guitar melody hanging on a single hook. "But when the chorus kicks in, and the guitars flip into arpeggios, the effect is rendered that much more dynamic". This sound is replicated nicely on the EP as a whole and makes for a simple but highly enjoyable listen. This is indie rock as we know it best, well worth the listen!

mp3 Jackson 88

La Snacks - Newfangled (2008)

Green Palm Radiation is another "one man show" hailing from Guelph, Ontario Canada. Jay Newberry is the man who writes, plays, sings, and records on his S/T debut release. On Newberry's MySpace page he sums it up - "catchy guitar pop consistently threatened by mischievous synths and questionable recording decisions". And, "happy psych-folk meets crunch pop despair". I couldn't agree more. The music is filled with sweet melodies augmented by swirling distorted guitar. The album has a strong DIY low budget feel to it, one that actually augments the music and works to GPR's advantage. It's hazy guitar pop with psych laden keyboards producing all kinds of interesting effects. "Shudder" is one of the better but different songs, shedding pop melody for a more melancholy touch to it, producing the outcome of "a lazy groove formed from stuttering percussion and thick acoustic chords". Overall, Newberry is wonderfully talented at creating quirky, lo-fi but lush sounding music. There is a lot of promise here and let's hope that we hear more of Newberry's GPR in the future!

mp3 Shudder

Green Palm Radiation - Green Palm Radiation (2008)

[MP3's] Bell X1, Floorian, The Junior League, The Shattered Hopes, Ralpheene

2009-09-05T21:00:00.007-04:00

Wow, there is a wealth of new indie music out there and a bunch that have not been covered by any blogs. I have listened to so many new albums over the last few weeks and it has been awesome. Amazon.com always has some good specials and you can get mp3 digital downloads from them for a pretty cheap price. Check it out.

Indie rock Irish trio Bell X1 were formed in 1999 out of the ashes of the fairly popular band Juniper which included critically-acclaimed folk artist Damien Rice. 2006's successful Flock saw the band create a unique sound mainly driven from post-Radiohead rock. Their music was far from derivative and they created a niche for themselves. 2009's Blue Lights On The Runway has the band taking, at some moments, a slight turn towards electronica. They haven't lost their focus though, still maintaining a penchant for sweet melodies and introspective lyrics. However, the album touches upon a unique mix of styles, from Talking Heads influenced quirkiness to straight indie ballads reminiscent of bands like Coldplay and Keane. "Blow Ins" falls into the later category with its piano-led, melancholic vibes. There are no ground breaking surprises here but rather an all together cohesive album. Overall, a worthwhile listen!

mp3 Blow Ins

Bell X1 - Blue Lights on the Runway (2009)

Cleveland's quintet Floorian's 2004 debut What The Buzzing showcased the bands own flavor of the psych/drone genre of music. This genre of music which was once odd and strange has now morphed into a subculture of its own. And, Floorian stick closely to the boundaries of this genre/subculture. Five years later, the band has released new material on 09's More Fiend. The "acid trip" sound on their debut has evolved somewhat on this mostly instrumental album but the trademark psych/drone/space-rock influences are still well intact. There are hints of metal, psychedelic, Eastern, and even Shoegaze traits on this heady album. Tracks like "Never Even" shows the band at its best, starting from a slow ethereal feel before moving into a heavier, fuzzed out direction. The LP overall has a dark, creepiness feel to it and should easily satisfy the space-cadet in all of us!

mp3 Never Even

Floorian - More Fiend (2009)

The Junior League is the work of New Orleans based multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter Joe Adragna. 2006's critically acclaimed debut Catchy "garnered The Junior League a nomination in the category of 'Best Emerging Artist' in New Orleans' Gambit Magazine's Big Easy Awards, and made offBeat Magazine's 'Top 50 Louisiana cds of 2006' list". This is definitely music for power-pop fans. The music blends classic pop-rock, jangle and garage into a nice package. 09's Smile Shoot Smile has Adragna further honing his wonderful pop sensibilities. The album contains plenty of sharp pop tunes that are cleanly produced and well written. "It's The End" is a classic, cranking up the volume amid strong guitar riffs. I love power-pop and am so glad that there are bands like The Junior League that do it so right!

mp3 It's The End

The Junior League - Smile Shoot Smile (2009)

The Shattered Hopes revive what is all good about punk rock by infusing back in "innate social protest via vicious black humor", something that is missing in a lot of punk bands today. Their 2009 debut Noise Annoys is punk rock with crackling roots, highly influenced by bands like: Violent Femmes, Cramps, B-52's, The Ramones, and The Aquabats. The result is quirky twangy songs, with funny lyrics, complimented by stout guitar riffs and a tight rhythm section. There's a lot of fun to be had with tunes like "Stop It!" with its strong nods to the aforementioned influencing bands. This is a promising debut and one that puts the fun back into punk rock!

mp3 Stop It!

The Shattered Hopes - Noise Annoys (2009)

Quiet Seems Asleep is the debut release from the El Paso, Texas trio - Ralpheene. This is indie at its finest, 100% homemade and recorded independently by the band themselves. The band lists influences proudly on their MySpace page: Radiohead, (early) Weezer, Pixies, and Fugazi. Ralpheene have a raw not over produced sound which is a mix of pop, rock, and the music of their influences. It all comes together nicely though with a melodic punch and all the hooks in the right places. For something that took three years to make, produced on a self-funded budget, and recorded in bedrooms/bathrooms, comes off quite nicely indeed!

mp3 All I Want

Ralpheene - Quiet Seems Asleep (2009)

[MP3's] The Jellybricks, Section Gang, Obits, Soviet

2009-09-04T22:00:00.009-04:00

Image From Here

A couple from last year and a couple more recent. Definitely ones that I am getting more familiar with and like. There is great indie music everywhere these days. I love it, for sure!

You know, I post a lot of power pop bands on this blog and that is mainly because I love that genre of music. The Harrisburg, PA-based rock ’n roll quartet The Jellybricks have been around the circuit for awhile now. Goodnight To Everyone is their fourth full length release. The band is fun, producing a combination of melodic pop and sharp rock. The band has been at it for a decade now and are definitely well versed in this type of music. There are sweet hooks, memorable chorus and wonderful harmonies. If you are looking for true power pop, then The Jellybricks will do the trick quite nicely!

mp3 Nobody Else

The Jellybricks - Goodnight to Everyone (2008)

Chicago's Section Gang have a bold statement about their debut EP release Greater Than Civil - "Rock And Roll Is Back". A strong statement indeed. I can't sum it up better than Jack Rabid's (The Big Takeover Magazine) words regarding this EP - "The [Greater Than Civil] EP is an intelligent, thoughtfully rendered, spunky/noisy, melodic/harmonic blend of 80's/90's post-punk and 60's psych-pop." The band definitely wears their love proudly for past decades of music - psychedelic 60's, glam-rock 70's, college-radio 80's and alternative 90's, all the while, mixing it up to create a concoction relevant for this decade. The band has a full length slated for release in 2010 and from the sounds of the Greater EP it should be good!

mp3 Step Aside

Section Gang - Greater Than Civil (2008)

Brooklyn's Obits are on the wonderful Sub Pop label and have some pedigree in them. Guitarist and vocalist Rick Froberg was previously a member of Drive Like Jehu and Hot Snakes, while fellow guitarist and singer Sohrab Habibion is a veteran of Washington, D.C., indie rockers Edsel. On their debut I Blame You the quartet deliver guitar driven rock 'n' roll with touches of twangy surf, all complimented by Froberg's powerful and distinctive vocals. It's true the album doesn't necessarily break new ground, which is supported by Froberg's declaration - "we’re not into innovation as a band". He goes on to say that "innovation is overrated". However, the band produces a batch of songs that are a combination of pure solid blues and punk rock. And, in the end, it comes off quite nicely!

mp3 Lilies In The Street

Obits - I Blame You (2009)

New York's Soviet are electro-pop artists that showed up in the late 90's. The band is known for its mature production of electro-pop/synthpop. "Soviet comprises singer/songwriter Keith Ruggiero, keyboardist Chris Otchy, guitarist Kenan Gunduz, and synth-handlers Amanda Lynn and Greg Kochan". The band are revisionists of the late 80's/early 90's electronic scene. On Spies In The House Of Love the music is filled with melodic vocals, tight synths, and great drum loops. It is both a moody and dreamy sound, one that captivates the listener and at times makes you want to dance. "Radio Kursk" is the album opener and is a dreamy pop song filled with a lush melody and great electronic loops. Soviet do a great job of keeping a worthy genre of music alive and well!

mp3 Radio Kursk

Soviet - Spies In The House of Love (2009)

[New MP3's] Adam Franklin, Baby Teeth, HC-B, The Sleepover Disaster

2009-09-03T20:00:00.005-04:00

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If you don't know Adam Franklin, then you should. Franklin was born in Essex, England and is most well known as the frontman/guitarist for one of the best 90's Shoegaze bands - Swervedriver. Along with his more recent solo work, he has also been a part of Toshack Highway and Magnetic Morning. Regarding his solo career, his debut release was Bolts Of Melody released in 2007. Bolts had Franklin returning to his Swervedriver roots and was full of the trademark sprawling, guitar heavy sound. A great album and highly recommended. In 2009, Franklin delivered his sophomore release Spent Bullets. Spent shed the guitar heavy sound from his debut release and adopted "low-key, soft-focus guitar balladry". The guitar lines are mellow and fluid with a special focus on Franklin's classic laid-back vocal style. The album is complete with powerful songs, great vocals and sweet guitar perfection. Definitely one of Franklin's best work to date!

mp3 Big Sur

Adam Franklin - Spent Bullets (2009)

And just for the heck of it:

mp3 Duress

Swervedriver - Mezcal Head (1993)

Hustle Beach is Chicago's Baby Teeth's third proper release. The band's music is fueled mainly from influences of 70's classic rock and power pop. Apparently, the majority of the album's material was created from a songwriting blog project. Having grown up in the 70's, this LP strikes a chord with my musical upbringing. This is upbeat pop, with sweet guitar hooks, and keen vocals. Things may sound somewhat derivative but they are done in such an excellent way. I definitely need to check out their earlier work. Fun stuff!

mp3 The Swede

Baby Teeth - Hustle Beach (2009)

This is not the typical fare of music that I feature on this blog but it is very intriguing. From what I've read, Sicilian band HC-B take their name from Henri Cartier-Bresson who was a French born photographer and "is widely considered as the father of modern photojournalism". "He had an inspirational gift of capturing the reality of street life in haunting, sometimes moving, and highly atmospheric images. His legendary status is forever assured among the greats of photography". His work has not only inspired photographers but also musicians alike. HC-B produce sonic, cinematographic music and their second album Soundcheck For A Missing Movie is definitely inspired by Cartier-Bresson's work. This is an album that requires one to sit down and thoroughly listen to it. It requires concentration and time to get its full effect. There are seductive melodic moments and also intense dramatic moments. A strong attention to detail, well formed ideas and strong instrumentation are hallmarks of this LP. This is cinematic music for the brain and is truly wonderful. Check out "Missing Movie" as it slowly simmers and then explodes with crashing but controlled guitars. A beautiful album indeed!

mp3 Missing Movie

HC-B - Soundcheck for a Missing Movie (2009)

Finally, another one that is in more familiar territory and should really properly be a part of one of my Shoegaze posts. I first discovered California's The Sleepover Disaster's wonderful 2004 release Loud Is The New Quiet via The Big Takeover Magazine. The band was originally formed in 1997 and are extremely influenced by the late 80's/early 90's Shoegazer scene. Their sound is full of big atmospheric guitars, melodic songwriting and hard driving rhythms. The music is far from derivative - the band takes its influences serious but also add their own updated touches to make it relevant for today. 2009's Hover, their fifth release, follows the progression of the bands career, sticking to their roots but always refining their sound. The LP boasts huge, fuzz filled guitars, heavy bass and singer/Guitarist Luke Giffen's vocals more in focus than ever before. Not only is there the Shoegaze element but the band also treads at times into the pop/dream pop world. "Tremble" is a standout track with deep, loud bass, and Giffen's guitar work shining above the mix. This is definitely Shoegaze for 2009 and it reminds us of everything that was important to that genre of music in its heyday. I love Shoegaze and I definitely love The Sleepover Disaster!

mp3 Tremble

The Sleepover Disaster - Hover (2009)

And here is another one:

mp3 Don't Talk

The Sleepover Disaster - Loud Is the New Quiet (2004)

[MP3's] The Moog, Snowglobe, Dipsomaniacs, Elba

2009-09-02T20:00:00.002-04:00

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The Moog are a Budapest, Hungary quintet. Their follow up to the excellent '07 debut Sold For Tomorrow was recorded in Seattle and is titled Razzmatazz Orfeum. They are a hard playing band and put out a sound that is part Ramones, part Dinosaur Jr., with the fuzziness of Jesus & Mary Chain. A nice mix for sure. Think "new wave-garage with hints of post-punk psych" and you will have it nailed. These guys could be big if only they had more exposure!

mp3 Sphinx

The Moog - Razzmatazz Orfeum (2009)

No Need To Light A Night Light On A Night Like Tonight is Memphis based Snowglobe's mini-LP follow up to 2006's Oxytocin which was a breezy, gentle psychedelic pop record. On this mini-LP, the sextet produce orchestral pop ranging from string-based music, to jagged guitars and banjo, and finally to full scale power pop. All the while led by the wonderful lyrics/vocals of band co-lead vocalist Brad Postlethwaite. This is pop music done right!

mp3 Nothing I Can Do

Snowglobe - No Need to Light a Night Light on a Night Like Tonight (2009)

Greater Philly/New Jersey Dipsomaniacs haven't released a proper album since 2005's Whatever Planet. On 2009's Social Crutch this rock 'n' roll, hooky, power pop band haven't lost a step. "The Replacements have always been a decent reference point for the band's sound - power-pop with a heavy influence of 60's garage rock and the simplicity and directness of punk". The Dipsos have been around since the mid-90's and they are still true to their trademark sound and they do it so well!

mp3 Halo Around You

Dipsomaniacs - Social Crutch (2009)

On 2008's debut LP An Avalanche, Seattle's musical trio Elba hit the pop mark so well. The band produces tight, tuneful songs that are reminiscent of bands like Shins, Decemberists and Modest Mouse. This is artful, melodic rock/pop music. On An Avalanche the band hits multiple genres at times, fully intact with piano, organ and jangling guitars. This was a nice find and highly recommended!

mp3 Wide Awake

Elba - An Avalanche (2008)

[MP3's] Faunts, Cazals, Gregor Samsa, Semi Precious Weapons, The Disciplines

2009-09-01T21:03:00.004-04:00

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Sorry about being away for a few days. Had a lot of personal stuff to take care of. But, I should be back to my normal daily posting now.

Some of these albums came out in 2008, but are still new to me. Some, came out in the early part of '09. Hopefully, they are ones that are new to you too. Coming up, will be new releases for this week. Enjoy!

How I missed out on Canadian Faunts 2005 release High Expectations/Low Results is a mystery to me. From reading reviews on that album, I was very intrigued by the bands music. As described, the album was "ethereal dream pop" mixed with neo-Shoegaze elements. After releasing a 2008 LP titled Remixed, Faunts return in 2009 with Feel.Love.Thinking.Of.. To me, Feel. combines several genres of music and it is done very well. The band ditches the guitars for a good half of the album to explore pop electronica and dreamy dance vibes. But, about half-way in Faunts revisit "the Edge-like guitar work from their previous work". The band also treads on exploring the psych-rock music of bands like Mogwai and Explosion In The Sky. With its different genre explorations, Feel. is an outstanding work which not many bands can pull off today.

mp3 It Hurts Me All The Time

Faunts - Feel. Love. Thinking. Of. (2009)

Cazals 2008 debut What Of Our Future features catchy melodies, striking guitars and slick synths. Apparently, during 2008 this East London band received well deserved hype. The album delivers fanciful guitar pop, electronica and a fine honed indie rock sound. I keep visiting this album over and over, to me it is that good. Can't wait for their sophomore effort after listening to this excellent debut.

mp3 We're Just The Same

Cazals - What of Our Future (2008)

It is clear from their various LP's that Gregor Samsa (originally from Richmond, Va.) have been seriously influenced by the early Shoegazer scene. However, on their 2007 release Rest the band take elements of "epic post-rock filtered through the lens of groups like Mogwai and Godspeed You Black Emperor!" (see their earlier work) and mixes it up with "a little bit of calm indie rock amid an equally calm but somewhat different sonic background". Gregor Samsa have successfully proven that they can take post-rock to a whole new level. Not your usual fare from that genre of music. 2009's Over Air is the band performing live on Dutch radio station VPRO. A good majority of the songs are from 07's Rest. As a note, Rest was composed over e-mail, put together while the band resided in different parts of the country. Over Air brings the band together and the result is a wonderful take on their hypnotic music. The track "Young And Old" comes from their 55:12 LP and is probably the most striking of all. It's a dramatic song exploding into the sound of a overdriven guitar. Nice indeed!

mp3 Young And Old (Live)

Gregor Samsa - Over Air (2009)

Semi Precious Weapon's 2008 release We Love You has the band focus on elements from punk to glam to new wave and dance music. Semi Precious Weapons is the creation of "Chicago born gay/ambisexual singer/songwriter Justin Tranter, a charismatic frontperson with a long history of outrageous performances". The band has been called by The Guardian as "the most important band in America". SPW has notoriously fantastic live performance which probably garner them the positive press. The music is tight and sometimes furious especially on the punk leaning songs. "Magnetic Baby" is a huge riff heavy influenced tune complete with killer guitar hooks and the bands heady enthusiasm. Tight!

mp3 Magnetic Baby

Semi Precious Weapons - We Love You (2008)

Posies co-founder Ken Stringfellow has an impressive career (both solo and in other bands) that has stayed close to the wonderful pop music he's created since the late 80's. The Disciplines is Stringfellow's latest project and Smoking Kills is their debut effort. The album has 13 tracks clocking in at under 40 minutes. And it's loud, fast, and wide-open representing a stark contrast to Stringfellow's solo work. "This stellar band combines the best of glam and garage, drowning shamelessly catchy melodies in thundering guitars and the catch-me-if-you-can rhythm section". Oslo is an epic track and an appropriate closer to this wonderful album. Love live Ken Stringfellow!

mp3 Oslo

The Disciplines - Smoking Kills (2009)

[New Releases 8-25-09] Blitzen Trapper, Spider Bags, Mellowdrone, Mew, David Mead

2009-08-27T21:00:00.005-04:00

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Trying to keep up with what is new. Will try to do this every week. Below are five albums I picked out of the new releases for August 25th, 2009. Arctic Monkey's Humbug was also released on the 25th. But, I decided not to post about it since about a million other bloggers have beat me to the punch. It's actually a decent album and I have nothing against the band. So, every week, on Wednesday or Thursday I will highlight some of the new releases for that week. This will be a new weekly series. On to the music:

Blitzen Trapper's seven track EP Black River Killer is intended to be a companion piece to their highly praised 2008 LP Furr. Now, as I said before, I am not well versed in the Americana style of music but I am getting more into it as of late. The EP shows the bands strength on more of the folk side of things rather than their sometimes inclination to do "psychedelic Southern indie rock jams". Both Wilco and Fleet Foxes had the band as their support act mainly because the Portland, Oregon band's sextet music incorporates some of their traits. "Shoulder Full Of You" is a wonderful introspective song supported by acoustic guitar and piano. Eric Earley (guitarist/vocalist) paints striking images with his lyrics on the track. It is quite clear that the Pacific Northwest is establishing a path for Americana music in the 21st century.

mp3 Shoulder Full Of You

Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer (2009)

This is my first exposure of this band so bear with me. North Carolina's Spider Bags 07's release titled A Celebration Of Hunger was infused with "bawdy sing-alongs and bar anthems". Goodbye Cruel World, Hello Crueler World has the band toning it down some from their earlier release. To me, this music is a strong hybrid of rock and country/roots influences. Call it alt-country or bar band music and I think you have hit the mark. A nice change of pace for me. "Que Viva El Rocanroll" (Quevivaelrocanroll as the press writes) is a sweaty, anthemic song complete with drums in a march-like beat. It is a standout track on the LP and gives us a view of the "next step in the bands evolution".

mp3 Que Viva El Rocanroll

Spider Bags - Goodbye Cruel World, Hello Crueler World (2009)

Mellowdrone's Angry Bear has the band return to independent label status after their 2006 release Box on Columbia Records. For me, Box was a polished, stand out LP combining both dance beats and blistering rock 'n' roll. One of my favorites of that year. Angry Bear has more of a DIY feel, shedding some of the gloss of their previous release. Actually, it works, and not a bad direction for the band to take. The whole album has more of a heavy rock feel to it which I like. "Lady In Her Underwear", for me, is one of the standout tracks. It incorporates some of the "old" Mellowdrone but more importantly brings forth a newer refined sound. The song has bandleader Jonathan Bates repeating the line "This could be the last time" mimicking the looping techniques that he so well employs in his music. My personal feel is that Angry Bear should propel this band into the limelight, something that they really deserve.

mp3 Lady In Her Underwear

Mellowdrone - Angry Bear (2009)

For diehard Mew fans, they have been known to say that Mew is the best band in the world. A strong statement indeed. Mew's fifth full length comes with an absurdly long LP title name, which I will shorten to No More Stories Are Told Today Sorry... and is a strong follow-up to 07's Half The World Is Watching Me. On No More Stories, the Danish indie rockers present a well crafted and very melodic piece of music. Mew are masters of space rock, dream pop, and straight forward indie rock. And they stay true to form on this LP. And as one reviewer put it - "Simply put, No More Stories… is accessible without being overbearingly so, experimental without sounding too abstract and ridiculous, and most importantly, one of the year's most endearing records". The closer and Yes band inspired track "Reprise" is an elegant piece with a wobbling riff and warm electronic tones. I don't know if Mew is the best band in the world but I sure do like this LP.

mp3 Reprise

Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today Sorry... (2009)

Why David Mead is not very well known is a mystery to me. Almost And Always is Mead's fifth full length release. Mead has been making music since 1999 and subsequently released four critically-acclaimed albums and a highly praised EP. He is a very talented singer and songwriter. Mead creates soulful 21st century pop songs in surprisingly strong classic arrangements. Almost And Always is "his most intimate work to date, the album examines life after marriage and the promise of things to come". Mead is a master of classic pop. "Sleeping In Saturday" describes life's simple moments and shows that "rock" is not totally absent on this LP. The song is a Beatles influenced track recalling McCartney at his best. Let's hope that David Mead finally gets the real recognition he so strongly deserves.

mp3 Sleeping In Saturday

David Mead - Almost and Always (2009)

[MP3's] A Mixed Bag

2009-08-26T20:00:00.006-04:00

The reason why I called this post "A Mixed Bag" is mainly because I've included songs from 1968, 1970, and all the way to 2009. I don't think I have ever, during the life of this blog, posted anything from the 60's. I think I may have posted some 70's stuff before but not sure.

Well, you all know by now that I love lists. And, I've talked a lot about Mojo Magazine. In their latest edition they have a section called "The Mojo Playlist". It's basically a list of Mojo's Top Ten tracks that they've picked for the current issue plus it includes a Readers' Top Ten List. So, I thought it would be cool to post some of these tracks, especially the ones that I don't know a lot about. I hunted around and found five out of the total 20 combined picks. I may do another post with some more tracks. On to the music:

I must admit that I have not heard of Department Of Eagles. And, that the band is Grizzly Bear's guitarist Daniel Rosen's other band. I haven't listened to their whole 2008 release In Ear Park but after hearing "Phantom Other", I definitely will change that. As Mojo says this is "captivating spook-folkery". Not the usual fare that I listen to but nonetheless good indeed. "Phantom Other" is a cool track which starts from acoustic guitar and simple vocals and then transforms itself with striking keyboards, large guitars, and drums. "In Ear Park's rippling guitars conjure up a far-off, sun-dappled yesterday, and the way its backing vocals and waltz rhythms swell capture the way a memory can completely immerse someone".

mp3 Phantom Other

Department Of Eagles - In Ear Park (2008)

I am familiar in name with Glasgow's My Latest Novel but somehow I missed out on their debut 2006 release Wolves. Therefore, I have been intrigued that they have a new LP for 2009 titled Deaths And Entrances. Again, I haven't heard the whole album but plan to change that soon. In reviews I've read on Deaths, there are strong reference to bands like The Veils all the way to Arcade Fire. "I Declare A Ceasefire" invokes Arcade Fire's structured but chaotic splendor. The vocals are gruff but filled with emotion and are backed by the beat of large drums. This is a powerful track and a great introduction for me to the bands music.

mp3 I Declare A Ceasefire

My Latest Novel - Deaths & Entrances (2009)

I am definitely quite familiar with Conor Oberst's solo work (Bright Eyes) but don't have much experience with his work with The Mystic Valley Band. Quite frankly, the reviews I've read on 2008's Outer South have been spotty at best. But, what I have read says the the track "Roosevelt Room" is the LP's sole rocker. And, it surely does rock. The track has clattering drums pouncing off wild organ and striking guitar riffs. It's also a political song with lyrics about the Roman Empire and an American revolution. The track interests me enough, in spite of the LP's spotty reviews, and the LP is one that I may explore further.

mp3 Roosevelt Room

Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band - Outer South (2008)

I grew up in the 60's/70's but had no idea who Duncan Browne was. Apparently, Give Me Take You was his debut album in 1968. And, many folks who have discovered it long after its original release compare it to Nick Drake's albums. That a pretty strong comparison. "Gabilan" has a classical introspective feel to it. It falls into the English folk vein, a type of music that I am not very versed in. "A quietly dazzling work that embraced elements of folk, rock, pop, and classical, all wrapped around some surprisingly well-crafted poetry and Browne's stunning voice". This is quite evident in the sound on the track "Gabilan". And, Mojo went on to call it "precious folk-pop whimsy" and possibly "the new direction for Fleet Foxes". That is a pretty bold statement but one that may be worthy of some truth.

mp3 Gabilan

Duncan Browne - Give Me Take You (1968)

All Things Must Pass was George Harrison's first solo recording (produced by Phil Spector), originally issued as a triple album. The ex-Beatle's lead guitarist shined on this LP especially with hit singles "My Sweet Lord" and "What Is Life". "Wah-Wah", is a huge rocker of a song built around a bluesy guitar riff and containing "distorted guitars, slide guitars, wah-wah pedal guitars (of course), horns, strings, multiple drummers, percussion, and multi-layered vocals". All Things is Harrison's best solo work. And, with songs like "Wah-Wah" it is easy to see the strong influence his work has had on many of the bands we listen to today.

mp3 Wah-Wah

George Harrison - All Things Must Pass (1970)

[New] Thee Oh Sees, The Rumble Strips, Crocodiles, Cornershop

2009-08-25T20:00:00.003-04:00

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So, we continue on with some new music. Well, it is at least new to me....

Personally, this was my first taste of Thee Oh Sees. However, I was familiar somewhat with frontman John Dwyer's work in the San Francisco area (Coachwhips, Pink & Brown, OCS etc.). Thee Oh Sees latest Help is the bands second full-length LP following their 2008's debut The Master's Bedroom Is Worth Spending A Night In. The band fits easily into the garage/punk/psych genre of indie music and they do it well. There is an excellent play in the vocals department between Dwyer and bandmate Brigid Dawson which adds to the luster of the album. This is boisterous music filled with shimmering reverb (something I always like) and big bad riffs. And as one reviewer put it - "Thee Oh Sees churn out '60s-style garage psych-pop with a modern, DIY-noise flavor that places them in the same hipster, Pitchfork-recruited camp as The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Wavves". I couldn't agree more!

The Rumble Strips Welcome To The Walk Alone is the English quartet's second effort. The band adopts a moody blend of rock, soul, and chamber pop on Welcome. They display a strong ambition to produce a large sound with striking guitars, piano, horns, and booming vocals. "With their jaunty brass-laden tunes, the Rumble Strips have been heralded as a modern-day Dexys Midnight Runners". This is British jangle pop done really well. The only real complaint I have is that the LP runs for only a good half hour. And, to me, it is too short and I end up wanting more. But, overall it ranks as a good listen. Check the vintage string arrangement on the opening to "Back Bone" - nice indeed!

San Diego's Crocodiles debut Summer Of Hate is right up my alley. The duo pays homage to bands like The Jesus And Mary Chain and it comes off good. There is wailing feedback mixed with punk attitude. "Crocodiles' band name, which references Echo & the Bunnymen's 1980 album, is a telling clue that Charles Rowell and Brandon Welchez are well-versed in neo-psychedelia, British post-punk, and noise pop". The band does a good job of revitalizing the old while never seeming overly derivative. This is not easy to do but Crocodiles succeed in all avenues. "Young Drugs" is my favorite track. Coming in at seven minutes long with striking and mesmerizing feedback. A very promising debut from this California duo!

Cornershop return after a seven year hiatus with their LP Judy Sucks A Lemon For Breakfast. This post-modern pop duo return in absolute fine form. The band is well known for their hybrid of Indian music, British indie rock, and contemporary dance music. "Blending hallmarks of UK rock heritage - Beatlesesque melody, stack-heeled glam-rock, shiny Britpop - with rattling tabla, sitar, dholaki drum and Tjinder's rich Indian-accented croon, Judy Sucks A Lemon For Breakfast imagines how the timeline of vintage British pop would have sounded had it not whitewashed out a lot of the foreign faces along the way". Cornershop have thankfully stuck to their roots producing wonderfully experimental, feel-good pop music. In my opinion all the songs on the LP are stellar. Too bad we had to wait seven years for this LP. But, truthfully it was worth the wait. Judy is a bold, fresh sounding album, one that will stand the test of time. Check "The Constant Springs" complete with clarinet and piano carrying it wonderfully through. The band synthesizes elements of the last 50 years of pop music culture effortlessly on this LP. And, it's all fresh for the 21st century. A wonderful gem of music!

mp3 Destroyed Fortress Reappears

Thee Oh Sees - Help (2009)

mp3 Back Bone

The Rumble Strips - Welcome to the Walk Alone (2009)

mp3 Young Drugs

Crocodiles - Summer Of Hate (2009)

mp3 The Constant Springs

Cornershop - Judy Sucks A Lemon for Breakfast (2009)

mp3 The London Radar

Cornershop - Handcream for a Generation (2002)

[New] Pomegranates, Japandroids, The Music Lovers, Superdrag

2009-08-24T20:00:00.005-04:00

Well, I am still playing catch-up to the first half of 2009. I'm pretty sure most of you have heard the releases below but I have just experienced them. And, I think they are all great. If you haven't heard them I strongly suggest you pick up a copy of these albums. They are truly worth it.

So, a few words about them:

Pomegranates Everybody, Come Outside is the Cincinnati's band follow up to last years debut Everything Is Alive. "They've held fast to youthful ingenuousness, but have totally tightened formerly ragtag playing into completely coalescing, seat-of-the-pants, invigorated indie pop". This has got to be considered one of my top favorite releases of this year. The music is both dreamy and shimmering. Reportedly, the album is supposed to tell the unusual story of a character leaving home only to be abducted by a time traveler while swimming across the ocean, then taken to Jerusalem. This is definitely art-pop at its best.

Japandroids drove straight into the limelight with excellent press from both Pitchfork and the music blogosphere with their debut LP Post-Nothing . And, in this case, it is well deserved. The Vancouver duo create walls of buzzed out guitar and pounding drums. The music is frantic with strong guitar riffs and wonderful melodies. These guys definitely draw strongly on influences like MBV, Spacemen 3 and Sonic Youth. They surely have a strong future ahead of them.

Why I have not heard much of The Music Lovers LP Masculine Feminine from the music blogosphere is beyond me. The Big Takeover Music Magazine says "Matthew Edwards can lay fair claim to being the best songwriter in the world right now... The Music Lovers are one of the greatest bands around". This is smart pop, chock full of soul. The songs are full of wonderful hooks (think British guitar pop) and graceful, romantic melodies/lyrics. In my opinion, this San Francisco band should be huge right now. This definitely ranks in the Top 5, so far, regarding my list for 2009. This is pure pop music at its best!

Superdrag's Industry Giants has the bands original line-up return since 98's Head Trip In Every Key. Frontman John Davis converted to Christianity and Superdrag disbanded in 2003. Davis went on to release two solo albums in 2005 and 2007. The band broke off their hiatus in 2007 and produced a gem with Industry Giants in over half a decade. "Industry Giants confirms that John Davis and his compatriots can still crank out big, guitar-heavy rock tunes with a pop hook as well as anyone covering the same territory in the 21st century". Call it power pop or just straight forward, hard driving indie rock that proves Superdrag have no plans to go away. They are definitely in it for the long haul. And, I am with them all the way.
I've also included two stellar tracks from previous Superdrag albums so that you can get a taste of their earlier work.

Enjoy!!

mp3 Jerusalem Had A Bad Day

Pomegranates - Everybody, Come Outside! (2009)

mp3 Sovereignty

Japandroids - Post-Nothing (2009)

mp3 Masculine Feminine

The Music Lovers - Masculine Feminine (2009)

mp3 Try

Superdrag - Industry Giants (2009)

mp3 So Insincere

Superdrag - Last Call For Vitriol (2002)

mp3 Do The Vampire

Superdrag - Head Trip in Every Key (1998)

Some New Shoegaze Tunes

2009-08-22T20:00:00.006-04:00

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Damn, I've been sitting on these tracks for quite awhile. And, I feel bad for doing that. But, I got wrapped up in other things like the 80's and 90's series which took up some time. Well, at least, I am finally getting around to posting some new Shoegaze sounds.

"Deep Cut formed in East London in 2006.
The band members are: singer Emma Bailey, guitarist Mat Flint, bass player Simon Flint, drummer Ian Button and guitarist Pad Bailey. Mat plays bass guitar for Death In Vegas, and was formerly singer/guitarist for the early 90's band Revolver. Ian also plays guitar for Death In Vegas. Pad plays guitar for The Real Sound".

"Their debut album “My Thoughts Light Fires" was released in spring 2009. It features ten tracks, and was recorded by Ian in Vatican Studios and DCHQ in East London. It was mixed by the band in early 2008.
The single before the album, "Time To Kill", came out on Monday 27th October 2008. The A-side is an edit of a track from the album, while the B-side is a mix of "Just Chasing" by Tim Holmes of Death In Vegas. It was released on limited edition 7-inch vinyl.
On May 7th 2007 the band released their debut single, "Commodity"/"Freezer Burn" which was produced by Tim Holmes from Death In Vegas. It was also released on limited edition 7-inch vinyl".

"The band are obsessive music fans and cite influences ranging from New Order, Arthur Lee & Love, Primal Scream, 60s girl groups, Phil Spector, MBV, The Byrds, Dinosaur Jr, The Jesus & Mary Chain, 60s psych/garage, early B-52’s, Tamla Motown, Oasis, through to northern soul and the Smiths."

The tracks below are some of the best new music I've heard in quite awhile. Deep Cut have huge potential and they are more than just a Shoegaze band. I think we will be hearing a lot more from this band in the future.

Solar Temple Suicides are from Baltimore, Maryland. There is not a lot of press that I could find regarding these guys. From their MySpace page they describe themselves as a "drifty melodic daydream of a band". Also, the page says they sound like "the reverberation of a thousand flaming souls". After listening to the two tracks below, I definitely agree with this. From their sound a bunch of older shoegaze bands come to mind - Loop, Spacemen 3, MBV etc.

There is also some press about the band on their last.fm page. The band plays regularly in the Baltimore area and you can purchase their E.P. as a mp3 digital download on Amazon (link below). You can also pick up Solar Temple Suicide's performance at the Ottobar, Baltimore, MD. Recorded by Jeff "the Baltimore Taper" Mewbourn here. These guys have a great sound and I expect we will be hearing more from them in the future.

And the last band featured is Daydrop. I conversed via email with Azusa who is from Japan. Azusa is a college freshman and is the leader of what he describes as a three piece band, in which, the other members are an ibook g4 and a girl who lives in the display of the ibook. :-) He is active in the Tokyo area of Japan. He also explains his music in the form of a new genre (at least to me) called "a-gaze". Which is a fusion of shoegaze and japanese anime music. Splendid indeed.

Azusa is influenced by madchester, neo-acoustic/guitar pop, and a few bands from the 60's. The music is home recorded in his bedroom and features shimmery guitars and quirky/trembly vocals. This is definitely some unique and cool music. It looks like all of his work is downloadable (free) from his MySpace page (link below). I love it when I get exposed to something different like this and wish Azusa great success in the future.

Well, that's it for this round. I have more Shoegaze sounds that I've been sitting on and will definitely post those up soon. Stay tuned and enjoy!!

mp3 Time To Kill (Single Edit)

mp3 Dead Man Walking

Deep Cut - My Thoughts Light Fires

mp3 Fall

mp3 As Antennas

Solar Temple Suicides - E. P.

mp3 Sugar

Daydrop - Yumeutsutsu EP (Free Download Of EP)

mp3 Fuaim

Daydrop - Fuaim EP (Free Download Of EP)

Friday Music Six Pack

2009-08-21T19:01:00.002-04:00

Image From Here

You know, I have mentioned this before and will again. I missed out on new music for all of 2008 and half of 2007. So, I have been playing catch-up in the background. And, for that matter, I have been behind on the first half of 2009 and am playing catch-up with that too. Also, I have been buried in my 80's and 90's series which took a lot of my time but was/is well worth it. Which, brings me to my point: the albums/bands featured below may be old news to some of you but they are brand sparkling new to me. It's all part of my catch-up to the first half of the 2009. So, please bear with me and for some of you I hope these bands/albums are new to you too.

Great Northern's Remind Me Where The Light Is shows the band in excellent form since their wonderful 2007's Trading Twilight For Daylight. Remind has a "cinematic, wide-screen, post-shoegaze sound". At times, it has a darker and harder sound with more edge to it than 07's Trading. Overall, the band produces a dreamy sound throughout which makes it great post punk.

The Rifles 2006's debut No Love Lost was an excellent debut but with The Great Escape the band pulls it all together for one hell of a good album. "This foursome is the best Jam heard since Paul Weller's venerated group disbanded in 1982 - no small thing". All eleven songs on this LP are standout complete with kicking guitars and punkish bravado.

Newcastle England's Maximo Park have once again hit the target with their third release Quicken The Heart. "Quicken completes a transition from 2005's A Certain Trigger's wiry new wave guitar rock to this fiercer, more powerful post-punk pop". Singer/lyricist Paul Smith delivers emotive music of past loves. Songs both full of romantic "devastation and invigoration". This one is also a stunner from beginning to end.

Brooklyn's The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart have been making waves throughout the indie world and the music blogosphere. And, for good reason. "The Pain's recipe is a delirious amalgam of mid-80's British jangle coupled with faint shoegazer inclinations". Yes, the music is a throwback to earlier days but The Pains also make it work to their own advantage. Definitely a band we will be hearing good things from in the future.

Hotels' Where Hearts Go Broke see the band move form New York to Seattle. There are hints of a lot of greats including The Sound's Adrian Borland, Echo & The Bunnymen's Les Pattison and For Against's Jeffrey Runnings. "Hotels' soundtrack atmospherics-predating shoegaze into classic Brit post-punk-are impressive". Listening to Where Hearts definitely makes me want to dig up a copy of their 2005 debut Thank You For Choosing. This is definitely music right up my alley.

And, finally a Friday track from Lily Allen's wonderful 2006's Alright, Still. I just recently have become more familiar with and now a fan of Lily Allen's music. She has been recognized greatly by the indie world and music blogosphere. And, it appears to be well deserved.

That's it for today. More new tunes to come and may just get back to finishing out that 80's series. Enjoy!!

mp3 Driveway

Great Northern - Remind Me Where the Light Is

mp3 Fool To Sorrow

The Rifles - The Great Escape

mp3 Let's Get Clinical

Maximo Park - Quicken The Heart

mp3 Gentle Sons

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

mp3 Leilani

Hotels - Where Hearts Go Broke

mp3 Friday Night

Lily Allen - Alright, Still

Best Of 90's Britpop - Part VIII

2009-08-20T19:00:00.003-04:00

Well, unbelievable, here is the final installment of this series. These last six albums/tracks were the most difficult to get. Thanks to my wonderful friend Andy over at How Marvellous, I was able to finish this series. He provided me with two tracks that I just couldn't locate. Thanks, Andy Mate, it is greatly appreciated!

So, if by chance, you are just tuning in, this series was taken from Mojo Magazine's Classic Edition Britpop - 60 Greatest 90's Britpop Albums. And, this post finishes off the series with these last six tracks/albums. I did these eight posts sequentially (with no breaks in-between) so all you have to do is scroll down the page to view all the posts. Or you can get them this way: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, and Part VII. The albums/artists/tracks discussed in these parts are in no particular order or ranking from best to worst. They are just a cumulative sum of tracks from these sixty albums picked by Mojo.

For a little bit about each of these six last albums: My Life Story were a 13-piece band "eschewing loud guitars and wreathing platinum blond frontman Jake Shillingford's Anthony Newley-esque mockney swagger in lashings of strings and brass". Mornington Crescent was their debut and was an epic masterpiece that found more of a hit with critics than the Britpop public.

Menswear performed to the Smash Hits crowd and were labeled as all hype. However, they came from the same scene as bands like Blur and Elastica. Their lone album Nuisance went to Number 11 on the charts, carrying with it five top singles. They were labeled as "Britpop's boy band: easy to mock, hard to dislike".

Thurman formerly metallers 2 Die 4 were from Oxfordshire. "1995's only LP, Lux, gathered four of their five singles and while none can claim to be original, they are still great fun". The band coveted Blur and Supergrass's huge success and "went from rocker to stripey blazer and tight trouser clad Mod.

Edward Ball's "Catholic Guilt sees Ball build on the Britpop foundations he helped lay in the late 70's/80's with his groups TV Personalities and The Times". This Mod-inflected indie pop inspired Alan McGee to start the label Creation records. Ball was also an executive for Creation. Catholic Guilt reaped two UK Top 75 chart singles. The Mill Hill Self Hate Club and Love Is Blue.

World Of Twist's sole long player Quality Street "shared something of Pulp's crimpolene glam flair and Happy Monday's loping funk gait". The album failed getting any success commercially and the band broke apart. "But in their Edwardian garb, retro-stamped electronics and references to musical ancestors, Britpop's defined creed is clear to see".

18 Wheeler's Formanka was the bands second album. The band hailed from Glasgow and "their music flirted with folk and dub as well as espousing the more conventional 60's reference points". The band experienced a short lived moment of fame and after releasing their third album Year Zero they disbanded. Their short lived claim to fame is that they were the band Oasis was supporting the night that Oasis were discovered by Creation Records Alan McGee.

Well, that about wraps it up. I've covered 60 albums in eight posts. And, I can truly say that I learned a lot along the way. Regarding this series, my next step is to burn all 60 tracks on some CD's so that I can have a record of this compilation. I hope you have enjoyed this series. I put a lot of effort into it but it was well worth it. Coming up next will be some new music. And, after that I may delve back into and finish my 80's series, so stay tuned in. Enjoy!!

mp3 Forever

My Life Story - Mornington Crescent (1995)

mp3 Daydreamer

Menswear - Nuisance (1995)

mp3 English Tea

Thurman - Lux (1995)

mp3 The Mill Hill Self Hate Club

Edward Ball - Catholic Guilt (1997)

mp3 Sons Of The Stage

World Of Twist - Quality Street (1991)

mp3 John The Revelator

18 Wheeler - Formanka (1995)