SINGLES: Every month we look in our inbox and wonder what sort of banal crap are we going to have to weed through now. Every once in awhile we go down the nostalgia road and try and relate with the things that are burned like ancient meaningless wall graffiti into our ears. On first listen of Sadie Dupuis’s band Speedy Ortiz we knew something was up when we heard the guitar tones. This short road led to a mecca of influences and opened right up. Not all the music we get seems to be inspired or takes a bow to something pre-dating their birth in fact we think technology makes it a bad thing and some sort of passion for listening before you create is required. Anyway, a couple things we confirmed is; yes sure she worked in a record store and loves collecting 90’s records. The two songs on this latest single have got plenty of distortion and big melodies in a Dino Jr kind of way with lyrics that are as rich as the music itself. She paints with lines like“I have a boyfriend who likes to fuck to Can” ok we like her. She’s on the sleeve. On the vocal timbre side she sounds like Tanya Donelly from Throwing Muses a little bit with her own melodic grit. I will dare to say here; this band is as close to a female fronted heavier version of Nada Surf as it gets with lots of guitar schronks that are going to make a lot of mustache-nerds wish they were hipsterer than her. Check out “side 2” here and get side one “Taylor Swift” from them which I think there may be a trademark issue with but who cares the tune is good – my vote is to change the name of the song to “Taylor Swift Jr”. They were just recently headed into the studio to record a 10″! so if these latest track are any indication of music to come we’re very excited and big fans already. The previous full length release is more hum spun but still pretty great in it’s own right in a Lou Barlow kind of way. Anyway, you get the point. Check them out.
Mar 22 Sierra Grille Northampton, MA
Mar 28 Flying Object Hadley, MA
Mar 29 Shea Stadium Brooklyn, NY
Mar 30 Wesleyan Middletown, CT
Apr 09 Great Scott Allston, MA
Other music like this: Yr Light MP3 by Black Wine from Dark Energy EP Mexican Women MP3 by Throwing Muses from House Tornado A Weirding Away MP3 by Helms Alee from Night Terror Boyfriend MP3 by Janitor Joe from Big Metal Birds (am/rep) I’m So Green MP3 by CAN from Ege Bamyasi (1972)
ALBUM REVIEW: Palace Amusements by The Brixton Riot on Modern Hymnal Records is a great throw-back to everything that is good about rock music that is missing these days from the island known as Brooklyn. These Jersey guys reminds us of the hooky parts of Jets to Brazil, Ted Leo RX and the more memorable parts of 70’s and 80’s jangly guitar punk. To help them celebrate this release you should get your ass down to Maxwells on Fri March 23rd where they will play with Lieder, Roadside Graves and yours truly Eastern Anchors for some rock schooling.
I’m not sure there is any irony in a song title like “Hipster Turns 30” when the lyrics sober you up and say ‘get a mortgage and buy a car’. In fact I’d venture to say it’s probably more fandom on the sleeve than anything else. Hard working musicians with 9-5’s doing what they must in order not to drown in the hum-drum doldrums of the working stiffs union. You can tell every note and tone here is plucked just in the right spot and amusement created out of passion. This kingdom of rock is held in the highest of regards like a well crafted champion beer with a pedigree of influences that lends itself to something so familiar you’ll be happy you visited.
These sounds remind me of that sound man: Morning New Disease MP3 by Jets To Brazil from Orange Rhyming Dictionary (1998) Sometimes MP3 by fIREHOSE from If’n (1987) Three Girl Rhumba MP3 by Wire from Pink Flag (1977) Love You More MP3 by The Buzzcocks from Singles Going Steady (1979)
ALBUM REVIEW: M. Ward is americana really. He chose to criss-cross our nation and record A Wasteland Companion with 8 different engineers and 18 musicians from Steve Shelley on percussion and Bright Eyes’ Mike Mogis on organ to drop a couple names. The music here is diversely as R&Bish as it a country with a nod to some of things you may not admit you like from 70’s music. In particular on songs like “Sweetheart” that almost sounds a little like ABBA moved down to Texarcana. Then there is the very pretty japinated video single “The First time I Ran Away”… where he’s singing about voices in the storm with many layers of “ooohhhs” and a simple drum thumbing behind the melody it this creates desolate place.
The title track goes the way of being Nick Drake mystery folk acoustic inspired with fiddles fiddling in the background and ends up being pretty dark, almost as if created for a sounscape in some desolate movie where something bad is going to go down.
Sounds some what like: Way To Blue MP3 by Nick Drake (1969) Christ Jesus MP3 by Deer Tick from The Black Dirt Sessions (2010) Loveskulls MP3 from Bonnie Prince on Billy & Mariee Sioux Baby Lemonade MP3 by Syd Barrett
Here’s a couple dope brothers from Indiana in a band they call Stagnant Pools making this shoegaze rock dark and dank like Pyscho Candy. Not sure I need to say much more except we’re looking forward to hearing more of these gritty space jams. If there is not a more desolate place in the middle of the night I’ve ever driven down this is what the road sounds like.
Download: Consistency MP3 single by Stagnant Pool
They also remind me of The Sleepover Disater Disaster from Central San Joaquin, California.
Funnel Cloud MP3 by The Sleepover Disaster from Hover (2009)
Monks & Melrose
This next thing is by 17 year old prodigy Seamus Patterson calling himself Monks & Melrose. I think he’s at least heard the Lost in Translation sound track which visceral soundscape is present in his debut record called Ottowa. Check this out then go and download his whole record for free. You’ll thank me.
Download: Birds & Wings MP3 by Monks & Melrose from Ottowa
So the other night I had the honor of playing a solo show as The Slow Wire with a few bands I really dug Secret Photos, Bodega Satellite as well this other local swamp rock band called Traveling in Stereo. In all a awesome night. Originally the Eastern Anchors we’re supposed to play but either way I’m sure we’ll hook up soon enough as the album is the EA complete. There will always be more shows. What’s actually exciting to me is this new 10th Street live venue is actually book some exciting shit. The rumour that night also is that my pal Andy Diamond may be booking some music The Crossroads in Garwood in the near future (not confirmed yet) but we shall see. I’ve never had two rock clubs so close to since I move out of New Brunswick a decade ago.
Super energetic punk trio with some chops and riffage. Hope you dig them. If a band can sound good live on video it’s not a sound mans trick. No mixing in the world can help. Dig them.
Here’s another song by Secret Photos called jack and the pollock MP3 from their record Luv2Giv
I like the way they switch electronic embryo or power trio. Cool shit.
Some of this sounds like: Slow Motion MP3 by Ultravox Eels MP3 by Built to Spill from The Electronic Anthology Project You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face) MP3 by Mudhoney from Super Fuzz Big Muff Think About Carbs MP3 by Hot Snakes from Audit In Progress Champs MP3 by Wire from Pink Flag (1977)
ALBUM REVIEW: Meditate On It is the debut by Sleepless Saints is a record done with lots of gentleman like swagger. A tip of the hat to the guitar production and orchestration that drive this baby home. With great Rock-n-roll voice all wrapped up like Mr. Tom Petty or Mr Nick Lowe respectively. Yeah, we know it’s saying a lot if you like Oasis type reverb rock Singer/Songwriters then Sir, Mr. Christian Edwards delivers the well spun hooks. Lots of tasty vocal layers packaged in this album so say you. All the songs really show a sense of song without muddying up the heart of the matter. In particular on tracks like “Begining to Believe” there is some tasty slide guitar hands here that will buzz your ears as if you were saying “ohm” to yourself. Trust us if we thought this sucked we would tell you but we’re here to tell you this is a good sounding album all the way through with a pop sense that is delivered frankly and honestly. And if we told you Edwards actually has a meditation room in his house would you believe us?
Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone (Cinema Guild) tells the tale of how Norwood Fisher (Bass/Vocal – 1979 present) and Angelo Moore (Vocals/Sax 1979 -present) kept Fishbone together since the beginning to present day. Being a white suburban punk I was lucky enough to have caught them from the onset of their journey. Can’t say I stayed dedicated their whole career but with respect I went on to do my thing and thanks to them discovered a lots music with a open mind. This documentary features a slattering of rock star power and fandom from Iced-T, to Flea, Mike Watt, to Vernon Ried talking about how for them Fishbone set the bar. Watching this I quickly reminded how Norwood exploited the bass with his own funkiness as if it owed him which affected me in many ways when I started learning the instrument. Their energy was so influential to my sense of what a good time at show is; it still to this day is a feeling that’s never been topped by any other live band except for maybe Jane’s Addiction and a couple others. They set the bar so high that even they can’t seem to reach the altitude again and this documentary does a great job of portraying this wall of talent. There is hope as well from the underside of the “rock” dream where the notion conflicts with a bunch talented guys who slowly dispersed with having a hard time of finding acceptance even amongst their own culture. Laurence Fishburne says it best “They brought the funk to the punk”. If you ever wondered how a Artist works through their broken dreams this film gives you a hard glimpse into this world of break-downs and the insanity of it all. Unfortunately depending on your greatness it’s a intense journey that some artist don’t survive. In the end you’re rooting for them hoping the original line-up can get back together to make another record or play one mother fucking amazing show.
Give It Up MP3 by Fishbone from In Your Face (1987)
A few of the bands in the documentary: Organic Anti-Beat Box Band MP3 by Red Hot Chili Peppers from The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987) Group Sex MP3 by Circle Jerks (1980) Up The Beach MP3 by Jane’s Addiction from Nothing Shocking (1988)
EDITORIAL: Grammys, 2012. Seriously, there was once a time when the Music Industry would spend millions of dollars developing bands and performers. At some point in time ( they blame the internet piracy thing) they sort of hammered away at people’s tastes to the point where they don’t have any. So what are the Grammys for? Interesting fact there was once 109 categories and now there are 78! Is the music industry shrinking although it still thinks in big business terms and not how they used to develop song writers, building their audience and developing the performers — you the know — the art where good people like producers and engineers bring out the best. Now it’s about how fast they can exploit something and cheaply to make the business needs.
The only reason I watched the Grammys this years was to see what twitters reaction to Grammys was going to be – actually can’t imagine taking in other events like this or politics any other way. Brings whole new meaning to the silent majority. On the one hand it’s a award show but it sure as hell didn’t feel like they gave out more than 8 awards the whole 3 1/2 hour long broadcast. The Foo Fighters (5 Grammys), Adele (6 Grammys) and [insert skinny white chics name here ] sort of took them all home with them. They still allow lip syncing for “Artist” performances but then suddenly when you get a performance out of The Foo’s or Beach Boys backed by Maroon 5 I think a sudden appreciation of live talent may be taking a turn for the better. Well at least we hope. Big business knows what works so they work desperately to make sure none of the pop divas are perceived as having big asses, sing flat or having drug problems (RIP Whitney I think god meant the show not you) but anyway. The point is perception is everything.
There are always going to be manufactured artists and those who think a meat dress is unique. It’s easy but does it take talent? Remember when the abomination known as the Black Eyed Peas made a mockery of Half time shows? We all appreciated the dress malfunction. Autotune is starting to not be impressive and people really resent it never mind the horrible lip syncing. Who the hell wants to see Chris Brown dance? I know one demographic who does not mind -mostly. These are one trick ponies that like Grunge/Nirvana sound alike bands the Industry has seemingly bled the “genre” and spit it out so many times but agree they could use some new categories as suggested by Dave Grohl and Butch Vig that are little more nostalgic shall we say like “Best Garage Record” or “Best old-school album”. Now there is an idea!
About your new band:
With best new artist award going to Bon Iver – I still could not hum you a song although I could for last years winner. The deciders may start to develop bands we already love thanks to the internet and MP3 blogs like this one acting as their scouts. So many amazing bands in the past like the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin never played the Grammys even though they were dominating ticket sales in their hey-day. It’s a strange phenomemom. Bruce opening this years show was a good start to keeping to basics and what works. A magical moment where we all seriously appreciated because that is real talent to sing and write you own songs. What a concept! Don’t get me wrong getting a Grammy is no small feat but it’s cool when you feel somebody has earned it.
I’ve got to say I blame Thurston Moore and his Sonic Youth for making me think about instruments as a paint brush versus notes. Can’t say I ever dared to invent or play weird guitar tunings, except for the occasional drop “D” but I often enjoy working with a simple palette. Even a single not solo works for me. Anyway here’s a few tunes by the 99th best guitarists ever as noted by Rolling Stone and a zillion other guitar heads. I put him up and Lee Renaldo in the top 10 innovators of the instrument.
Circulation MP3 by Thurston Moore from Demolished Thoughts (Matador/2011) Pretty Bad MP3 by Thurston Moore from Psychic Heart (1995) Lonesome MP3 by Thurston More from Sensitive/ Lethal (2008) This one is really irritating noise so beware. Frozen Gtr MP3 from Trees Outside the Academy (2007) Shadow Of A Doubt MP3 by Sonic Youth from E.V.O.L. (1986) Madonna, Sean And Me MP3 from E.V.O.L. I Love Her All The Time MP3 by Sonic Youth from Bad Moon Rising (1985)
So much pop indie rock this month we don’t know what to do with ourselves. We love our inbox so keep the music coming. Here’s a few bands from Washington DC, Brooklyn, Florida, to Hampshire, UK.
This first one is a good song to open up our singles with by Access Royale. Cool little guitars, keyboard and bass interplay that tweeters and draws you in like a puzzle made out of musical notes. Think Dismemberment Plan and Bloc Party. Yup Access Royale are from DC so the proverbial chord changes do not fall far from the tree. Definitively one to watch!
Download: Hide MP3 by Access Royale from City Of Paradigm
We dig this psych noise from The Owsley Brothers. They are regular joes making a fuckin’ ruckus. Here’s a reverb drenched tune called “Rotten on the Vine” from their forthcoming record called Cobalt due out March 6th. You know that neo-bluegrass music you hear in True Blood. This is that type of swamp psychedelic blues. You’re not quite sure but there is this Cramps like jungle beat bumping you for ride on their pick-up truck with song scary sounding guitars. This scene might not end because the vampires have skills but it does because you certainly want to hear the flip side which is equally garage and dirty south like R.L. Burnside.
Here’s a Cities of Glass from Hampshire, UK who single starts out a little proggy and notey called “Expect Less” from their EP From Where We Are. The vocal doubling is the strong part here as the music marches on and guitar notes twist you up like a vine. This tune swings and we can see the kids bopping their head along. Maybe even uncrossing their arms! Very agree-able like early We Were Promised Jet Packs so enjoy it!
Download: Expect Less MP3 by Cities of Glass off of From Where We Are.
I really like the way the drums start pounding on this track one way then the bass goes another way on the third pass. Fort Lean are from Brooklyn. Lots of drums then towards the middle of the song after the guitar bridge they suddenly remind me of The Strokes. Except with delay on the guitars and little spattering of keywords or something like echo and the bunnymen. Catch them at Santos House Party Feb 28th w/ Team Spirit & Stepdad.
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