Sunday, October 05, 2008
Need to Hear Recent Releases
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
It's Deer Hunting Season!
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Great Eight - September 22nd
Midlake - Roscoe (from July 2006 release, The Trials of Van Occupanther, via Bella Union)
~ These Denton, Texas down home boys produce a 70's soft rock flashback complete with mellow instrumentation and a lyrical flow worthy of rockin' out with the longhairs.
Rouge Wave - Chicago X 12 (off September 2007 release, Asleep at Heaven's Gate, from Brushfire Records)
~ Acoustic lead, classic-sounding indie tune from this versatile group who compile "all their heartbreak, love, hurt, pain, elation and insight into a most affecting and beguiling record", according to an editorial review @ Amazon.com.
The Notwist - Good Lies (from June 2008 release, The Devil, You + Me, via Domino)
~ Described by some as "dream pop", this German quartet sends out the good feeling vibes and invites us into their sweetness to chill.
Wye Oak - Please Concrete (from April 2008 release, If Children, off Merge Records)
Sunday, August 31, 2008
The Great Eight - August 31st
Black Ghosts - It's Your Touch (off July 2008 release The Black Ghosts via the Southern Fried label)
~ Bossanova, bongo groovefest track with a retro and modern feel at the same time.
The Go! Team - Ladyflash (off October 2005 release Thunder, Lightening, Strike via Sony Records)
~ Hip-hop inspired indie dance diddy that features prerecorded vocal infusions.
Midnight Juggernaut - Road to Recovery (off May 2008 release Dystopia via Astralwerks)
~ Austrailian trio produce club sounding, smoke-inducing indie dance song; video features trippy aspects one may experience while listening to song!
Digitalism - Pogo (from June 2007 release Idealism via Astralwerks)
~ "Digital" sounding, drum and high hat tapping, bouncy track from the Germany-based music makers.
Uh Huh Her - Not A Love Song (off May 2008 release Common Reaction via Nettwerk Records)
~ Synth heavy, bass happy dance groove from musician/actress Leisha Hailey and her singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist partner Camila Grey.
The Faint - The Geeks Were Right (off August 2008 release Fascination via BLANK.WA Records)
~ Omaha, NE disco rockers come back to drop some flava on their first album in four years.
Sam Sparro - Black and Gold (off June 2008 release Sam Sparro via the Universal Republic label)
~ Another bass heavy, synth-laden dance happy track that featrues some actually lovely vocal backings and lyrical matureness from the Sparro man himself.
The Presets - My People (off April 2008 release Apocalypso via Modular Interscope Records)
~ Heavy trance-like dance track from Sydney-based duo.
EXTRA BONUS TRACK: Ladytron - Ghosts (off June 2008 release Velocifero via Nettwerk Records)
~ Liverpool's dance export experts deliver a gothic synth glam indie pop masterpiece with this tune.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Can't Miss Artist of the Week - Week Eight
Love as Laughter
MySpace, Official Website, Blog
Sound Breakdown and Analysis
Love as Laughter hail from the BK. They have been around since the mid 1990's and have built a reputation for energetic live performances. Their sixth full length album, Holy, turns another page in the evolution of this band. As put by Spin Magazine in their album review found here, singer-songwriter Sam Jayne "attempts to capture two disparate vibes on Holy: Pixies' loose-limbed chatter and Neil Young's big-sky heartache". What this means is Love as Laughter has come into their sound today after dabbling in 70's style garage rock and incorporating new millennium indie rockness.
Released on the Red Int/Red Ink label, "All Parts of Me", the bongo-happy, group vocalization tune, and "Coconut Flakes", the acoustic mellowness, "cheer up a friend" diddy, demonstrate the range and "variety of contrasts" used "to create a complex and thought provoking musical experience" on their new album, according to their MySpace. "Crosseyed Beautiful Youngunz" begins with a ratatat-tat on the drum and leads into lyrical creativeness. This lengthy indie rock groove sounds great live, as demonstrated here. Singer-songwriter Sam Jayne shows he has wit and sass in his lyrics to go with the band's almost 15 years of musical experience.
Why You Should Be Listening
Love as Laughter is currently on tour with fellow Brooklyn based group Oxford Collapse. Having built up a bit of a reputation from their previous album, Laughter's Fifth, which was released in April 2005 and received much acclaim, even being called "clever", "genius", and "hilarious" by several critics, LAL has plenty to live up to. Their new direction in the indie rock circuit should garner interest from new and seasoned fans alike. And again, they seem to have a great reputation for live performances. Much of their current album is available on their MySpace.
Release Date: Their latest album, Holy, was released in June 2008
Overall Artist Rating: 7 out of 10, but it may grow a bit on you!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Spotlight On Austin Area Music Scene
Photo Courtesy of The University of Texas at Austin
The South Texas music scene has given us many an act to boast about over the last decade or so. Some of these bands are more well known than others, but the group is a diverse, multifaceted sounding orb of energy festering deep in the loins of South Tejas. This would have been another "Great Eight" posting, but I only felt like representing seven, so what? The following are either based out of the ATX or make and produce their music in the area. Enjoy!Voxtrot - Kid Gloves (off first full length album, Voxtrot, released May 2007 on Playlouderecordings)
~ Popish indie rock with xylophone backing witty lyrics; their release of preference is the EP, but this self-titled LP release advances Voxtrot's ability to jam out
Aliens - Guinea Pig (off Head First, released November 2007 on MISC. MUSIC)
~ Punkish, noise rock-like awesomeness; a drum machine often has to be used to lay down the back beats for the incessant guitar riffs ranges lead singer/guitarist Blake Sandberg puts on his songs (extra info: "band" formed after moving from NYC in wake of September 11th attacks, created "alien" persona)
Bob Schneider - Changing Your Mind (off 2008 release, When The Sun Breaks Down On The Moon, from Shockorama)
~ Singer/Songwriter folk musician who infuses a lot of fun into song writing and making; he draws BIG local and fan-loyal flocks to his performances
Oh No! Oh My! - Farewell to All My Friends (from self-released self-titled album released July 2006)
~ Labeled "post-pop" by some, these melodic indie hipsters utilize many instruments while producing music comparable to similar acts The Magnetic Fields and Belle and Sebastian
Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines (off upcoming September 9th release, The Stand-Ins, from Jagjaguwar)
~ Folksy, acoustic tale of sailing that rises in tempo, and volume, to reveal why it's good to leave from home sometimes
The Come Latelys - Chicago (off June 2008 release Essential EP from Phono Records)
~ Bluesy jam from these self-described "soul, melodramatic popular song" cats; shows range of flavor Austin acts can showcase
Iron and Wine - Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car (off September 2007 release, The Shepherd's Dog, from Sub Pop Records)
~ Slightly more upbeat indie folk from Mr. Sam Beam; see here for further info on this great live act
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Can't Miss Artist of the Week - Week Seven
The Hold Steady
MySpace, Official Website
Sound Breakdown and Analysis
August's Find of the Month is also this week's CMAW. Many people have unfortunately never heard of this band; it's a shame to think it, since all the reviews I've ever read about this band rave about their live performances. Maybe it's time you give them a listen for yourself!
The Hold Steady, as it stands now, has been around since about 2003, and released their debut album, Almost Killed Me, in 2004 on French Kiss Records. Lead vocalist/guitarist Craig Finn (formally of Lifter Puller) formed the band after moving from Minneapolis in 2000 and wanted to make sure to not give in to the multitude of New York sounds and influences around him. He had a specific direction he wanted to take and invited guitarist Tad Kubler (also from Lifter Puller), bassist Galen Polivka, and drummer Judd Counsell to join him in the process. Franz Nicolay has since joined the band on keyboards providing accordion and harmonica melodies as well. Heavily influenced by the Twin Cities own, Hüsker Dü, as well as classic rock mainstays, The Band, The Hold Steady wanted to produce music they could play live as well as they recorded it. As a result, much of their first albums were recorded with that live appeal-approach. Their sound forms from those classic rock standards but adds the energy of indie mentality that people live for the music they are hearing.
Brooklyn-based The Hold Steady released their fourth full length album, Stay Positive, last month, which was recorded while performing at several New York-based venues over several months last fall and winter. They have transitioned their sound into a more radio friendly version of their previous outings, but Stay Positive still touts the rockin' musicality of previous releases Boys and Girls in America (2006) the religious themed-laden Separation Sunday (2005), which was the last album to be released via French Kiss Records. Seasoning and experience has done the band well. They have been signed with Vagrant Records since 2006 and their reputation for solid performances has led the band to be deemed America's Bar Band by National Public Radio. New tracks like "Both Crosses" really provide that classic, acoustic throwback feel while infusing new instrumentation and, as Pitch Fork Media put it, "opening up the sonic palette". The lead single "Sequestered In Memphis" rocks along in "The Boss" style with organ keys and horns backing the gruffy lyrical style of Craig Finn. The mix of arrangements on Stay Positive prove that The Hold Steady are as good, if not better in person as they sound.
Why You Should Be Listening
Live performances can and do make or break a band. If you haven't seen The Hold Steady perform live, then all you can hope for is to catch them on tour soon, which they seem to do a lot according to many a back story. Since I fall into that group, we all have to settle with this and a little of that until they come our way. Do yourself a favor and look here to see when they are on tour near YOU so you see for yourself what all the fuss is about.
Release Date: July 15, 2008
Overall Artist Rating: 7 out of 10
Monday, August 11, 2008
Need to Hear Recent Release
Their recent release came out August 2nd in Austrailia and last week, August 5th, in the states. Currently, it is backstocked as an import buy on Amazon, which has to mean something if you "buy" your music, which you should be doing! (I'm not gonna rant about illegal downloading, but you should support your artists!) Either way, get The Grates Teeth Lost, Hearts Won when you can and bounce dance to the new sound of the new music. Feel free to investigate for yourselves on their MySpace and official website here.
Friday, August 08, 2008
The Great Eight - August 8
Tilly and the Wall - Pot Kettle Black (from June 2008 release o off Team Love)
~ Omaha, NE five piece redefine their sound but still literally stomp out the drum beat in this rockin' single as they have been accustomed to do
Koufax - Any Moment Now (from Strugglers out September 23rd on Doghouse Records)
~ Sax-laden, hip-flowing track from forthcoming album featuring Czech Republic-living lead singer and his take on American life and culture
Japanther - See Evil (from May 2007 release Skuffed Up My Huffy on Menlo Park label)
~ Brooklyn duo on the experimental side of indie punk pop; a bit older but since they usually play basements and hole in the wall-type places in the BK, you might not have heard about them
Johnny Foreigner - Eyes Wide Terrified (from June 2008 release Waited Up Til It Was Light on Best Before Records)
~ Fresh on the scene UK indie rock threesome described by label as "inventive, exciting, angular art-pop"; features a unique sounding version of indie dance rock music
Ratatat - Mirando (off July 2008 release LP3 from Beggars Xl Recording)
~ Another BK duo who have opened for Daft Punk, Franz Ferdinand, and Interpol who have been described by Rolling Stone as "appropriate for indie dance clubs and late-night chillouts"
The Breakups - Day In The Sun (from February 2008 Eat Your Heart Out EP on Records)
~ Calling themselves "powerless pop", the flow and focus of this track from this "Hollywoodland" band is described well here
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Dead Right (from April 2008 release Pershing on Polyvinyl Records)
~ The addictive melodies of this Springfield, MO band continue with this acoustic, head bobbing track
These Modern Socks - Picking a Lock at The Speed of Light (from May 2008 release Picking a Lock at the Speed of Light on deadelectricrecords)
~ Eclectic mix from Minnesota band mates produce an indie electro pop groove worthy of hoppity dance moves; also check out their cover of the 80's classic Tears For Fears tune, Head Over Heels, here!