VIDEOS: Here’s a bunch of recent videos from bands from new jersey that we like for one reason or another.
Check out the latest Video for the song “NJHC” off the album Givin’ Up On Free Jazz by the love-able rockers The Everymen. You probably could write this song if you wanted too but you might have to be a pretty good googler to make the lyrics work. I’m proud when I see such Jersey pride. You can buy their album at www.ernestjenning.com | facebook them
WATCH: THE EVERYMEN- “NJHC”
WATCH: SCREAMING FEMALES – “HOPELESS”
Produced and Directed by Lance Bangs and Edited by Pete Larsen. We like this song. I think these two ladies from these first two bands could be sisters. It’s as close to pixie-like song as it gets for The Screaming Females. Catch them on tour! Jim from Cool Dad Music does a nice and goes into a lot of detail song for song reviewing their new recordRose Mountain – Visit the official Don Giovanni Records website space for music: http://dongiovannirecords.com/
WATCH: DENTIST – BIRD IN A CAGE
New video directed by City Gardens ex-bouncer turned videographer our pal Mr. Jim Norton. Takes the band to the snowy lanscape of new jersey. Singer shows off her pearly whites and comes-off very angelic. The tune is is vert pop-alt. The vibe is good in this song. The other songs on their record are faster, punkier, surfier and just as sweet. Get their latest on bandcamp page.
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SINGLE REVIEW: For months I have been uninspired to click a single fucking link. You could say even 1,000s of them have been ignored. Obsessed with changing my reality to live in the now but every once in awhile I dare to see what others have dreamed-up and take a break from my bullshit; and so I discovered the band Why We Run from Sydney, Australia. They had the promise of something visually unique. Their video for their debut single “Comfortable Lie” Directed by Tim Gibbs; who is a rock video pioneer having worked with the likes of John fucking Lennon, Dire Straits, Motorhead, Billy Bragg, and XTC. Gibbs has taken the pin-hole camera obscura photographic technic and made something visually stunning. Inspired by this dream-scape song presented to him by the band and paired it with an idea that grew from his sleep flat. The unique part is he took this mobile and made them do actions in slow-mo in the back of a truck. Now the music stands all on it’s own so If you are fan of radiohead and a little bit of depeche mode mixed with eno’esque ear candy; then this song will speak to your hazy state. The melody is hypnotic like a pendulum swinging in front of your eyes. This will lift your soul up in the right place as you dream big along with me. I looped this song a few times and at every turn the rem chase was sweet. This is more than your normal video of the day. This is driving art musically and pushing imagery with a simple idea and turning you upside down with great care and patience. Here’s the Band’s Facebook | Twitter
This is our obligatory Xmas song post. We like this time of year where we get to dig into our emails and find the best new Christmas songs for 2014. Hope you enjoy!
The Church do “XMAS”. Their sound can never be mistaken for another.
This season a nice compilation of rarities and standards called All Is Bright, is an exclusive playlist of newly-recorded holiday songs on Amazon with music by some of our favorite gals Liz Phair, Lucinda Williams, Beth Orton and Yoko Ono & Flaming Lips doing a wonderful version of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”
RIP: Today New Jersey Native Matthew Pinfield DJ/program director and famous MTV VJ had this to say on facebook about the passing of Ian McLagan age 69.
STONES: Miss You from Some Girls (1978 MP3 w/ Ian McLagan on keyboards
I know I’ve waited a few days to respond to the news that my great friend Ian McLagan’s unexpected death of a stroke as I was shocked and saddened when my girlfriend read the news to me. I met Mac on a connecting flight where we happened to be sitting directly across the aisle from each other. We because fast friends and that flight went fast as he told me stories of Faces and Small Faces and had me laughing all the way. He was a funny, clever and spirited man who was a master of the Hammond B3 Organ and the Wurlitzer Piano. He came to WRXP and did my live Direct TV broadcasts at SXSW with me. He gave me 2 things I would have gladly paid for anyway, his autobiography All The
Rage and the Faces box-set 5 guys Walk Into a Bar. He lived through the tragedy of losing his wife in a car crash and never lost the spark of positivity that made you love and appreciate him so much. He played on so many great records with so many other legendary artists that there are too many to mention from The Stones to Springsteen. He was getting ready to hit the road again with Nick Lowe when this story broke. Needless to say, he will be missed by friends and fans alike.
RIP – Ian McLagan from faces with words by Matt Pinfield
Classic WRSU FM Matt Pinfield 5/23/83 3 am
[mixcloud http://www.mixcloud.com/jeffwertz/classic-wrsu-fm-matt-pinfield-52383-3-am/ width=660 height=208 hide_cover=1 hide_tracklist=1]
ALBUM REVIEW: One of my new favorite downloads from the newly refocused emusic is Hookworms. If they(EM) didn’t recommend it I would still be ignoring the 30 times some publicist named dropped them to push their own band on me. Fuck totally been ignoring the blog too but that is a whole other matter I won’t bore you with the story here. Just know this “indie” psych band from Leeds UK is notable and THE HUM is the evidence, the happy noise that woke me up after a 3 month slumber of letting this blog float in space with not even so much as a reach around. They are coming around to the East Coast in April of 2015 so maybe I’ll get out of the house then. This record reminds me of a lot of other new psyche like no age and locals Wreaths; but they hit some pink floyd-esque flair here and there with well placed in a echo and bunnymen like Velvet Underground grooves and guitar delays. Still somewhat poppy and catchy though – your note dead right? Music shouldn’t bore you so this may keep you alive with a swift bong hit ( do the kids even do that anymore). Some screaming type stuff too on some of tracks which reminds me of Rye Coalition. You know when the notes yelp in a good way. Enough reminders and head-nods to a band that cares. Not operatic either or least you feel it as some of the running time on the their tunes goes over the minute mark.. Just good head noddin’ While their 13,000 fans on facebook already know their previous “artier” Pearl Mystic. This is a good sign and probably brought you by some record nerds or Weird World Record Co. Website
Very good band that does the swamp rock thing right if you dug the Black Keys when they made good music. Check-out The Owsley Brother’s new album “TOB” which comes out Dec 2nd. http://owsleybros.bandcamp.com
We love radio. We grew up on it and before there was the crazyness that is internet these days we relied on college radio that was located on the left of the dial. Here’s a few of Best New Podcasts and Radio shows based out of New Jersey and New York. I’m sure there are more so if you do a show and want to get listed just let us know and follow us on twitter and with the other facehookers. We’ll post a update.
AUDIBLE AFFECTS via WTSR by Jerry Lardieri
We love Jerry Lardieri’s taste in rocknroll music. We dig his band too The Brixton Riot. He’s only had a couple shows but so far he’s off to a roaring start. It’s a great way to spend a friday morning as he plays the very best new and old REAL alternative music has to offer all in one tight set of music. Dig it. Here’s his website and facebook
No Format Radio via WRSU by Jeff Wertz
Jeff used to do a show called Flexible Vinyl only show for years and years. He’s since passed the torche to Doug Vizium so the punk flame carries on. This is more free-format but well worth tunning in.
Keeping Score at home on WRPB by Jon Solomon
For folks who know any thing about the deep New Jersey music scene Jon is practically a house-hold name. Even on Christmas when he does a 24hr xmas show. He posts meticulous show notes about what songs he spins. Here’s his website to see waht I am talking about Follow him on twitter or better yet xatch him on Weds 7-10pm on WPRB.
Flexible Vinyl on WRSU by The Slugger
Ok while you won’t hear anything pre 1990 on this radio show and that is pushing it – don’t panic because the hour long show is a lesson in punk music. Shit if you heard of half the bands you’ll be way more punk than me. Seriously awesome show.
Bands from germany, brookyn, down south and all over the place grace our pages and here http://soundcloud.com/ReviewStalker 24/7 music for 24/7 you music creeps because it’s the internet and shit.
Listen to: Surfer Blood “NW Passage” co-headline tour with We Are Scientists and Eternal Summers support, October 1 – 10 and the jam is pretty is cool. Rad space guy poster too.
Listen to: Ghastly City Sleep – “Clumsy One” for radiohead fans
Listen to: Waltzer – “Superfine”– indie pop grunge light
Listen to: Duke Evers “Seaside” – twisty alt country
LIVE VIDEO: DRIVE LIKE JEHU is one those groups we all hear from so many good indie rock bands that they influenced their sound in some way. Your truly unthankfully included. Jehu existed at the same time as Rocket from the Crypt in the 1990s and we dug them both. And it’s funny we (i mean me) talk about the 90’s like we do the 1960’s like we do Hendrix, Zep and The Who. Not that there is any comparison with the notoriety or the level of world wide influence as lets say Nirvana got who existed at the same time as Jehu. In fact they over-shadowed 100 of bands and Interscope was never really able to cash-in on them when there was the free-for-all. But basically bands from the 90’s are the results of having heard those bands and going the complete other directon by disregarding harmony and infusing a punk ethos and getting the opportunity to record a major label album like Yank Crime at not have a radio hit in the conventional sense. At least in my humble opinion this is one of the bands that defines the energy of Southern California and I am thankful for their existence and can’t imagine part of musical landscape without them. Think about it for a little while and then leave a comment if you want.
Anyway, there were always two sides of the fence and resentment from fans that these guys didn’t get as much fame as lets say Husker Du or The Replacements who came before as the attention Rocket from the Crypt got but in their brief Hey Day they were prolific and continue in the formats of Obits, The Night Marchers and of course Hot Snakes where they continue on building their indie rock empire and chapters in history. I like them all and in partcular enjoy the guitar interplay between Jon and Rick and they happy they get to rock for a living. It’s a rare thing to see and hear. These two are the few who mastered the art of re-invention in exploratory and irritating noise guitar. We say it’s a nusance because they do it so well. Needless to say the grinding in this video has tons of energy and maybe would be a fun show to see at some dive bar since the stage they are playing on is huge but either wayt when Rick Froberg thanks the audience “for watching their retarded music.” That is basically a nice summary of their formula and something for new bands to take notice of. This could be your 1960’s.
The annoying hum you can feel underneath the music is driven by the organ piping in some crazy bass undertones from the GIGANTIC PIPES behind the band. Not sure if you can notice it because the regular bass and drums are not feeding back but for the most part this sounds great and its a compilation of all the people who shot the band from various angles. Some in focus and some not. Eventually the hum calms down and the sound engineer gets it under control. So almost like you are there. Youtuber Fabio Cunha took the time to edit and sync the audio so kudos to that guy. The last song in their set just kills what guitared indie rock is all about.
SINGLE REVIEW: “Summer Road” is a great closer for the Summer of 2014. Fuck, so much ear-candy on this song. He of course has fucking phasers on the drums. Classic Claude move – smoother than a brazillian waxing with plenty of guitar dueling solo action. Nothing brown about this song and a good teaser from his third album Laughing Hearts which we’ve been looking forward to for years. Claude Coleman Jr is of course the former Ween drummer and our brother from another mother. We met him in New Brunswick so many moons ago and saw his band Skunk play a few times and then in various projects since. Which were quite inspirational to guitar dorks like Billy Corrigans and myself. Listen back to back to Gish by the smashing pumpkins and Last American Virgin to hear what I’m talking about. Anyway, this single should set you straight that he’s beyond influences or ahead of them. Sure you initially hear the calming vocal tones of Elvis Costello and you will also notice the delivery on this jam is relentless. Just keeps giving on every listen because the church of rock is in session people.
To put it mildly you shall be overcome with fists of glorius crunching rock on the same level of The Hold Steady. Honetly, when Amandla does the tour thing you should do yourself a favor and go out that night. We will see you there. Claude’s music is uplifting and makes me smile a whole bunch of teeth ear to ear. Band website .
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