MUSIC REVIEW:It’s been 7 Years since The Bigger Lovers haunted a stage and about 10 years since their debut How I Learned to Stop Worrying came out. In celebration you can order a 500 limited edition pressing of this 2001 release. I think we need to check the math but regardless here’s a fresh Little Giant Maxi Single from them. Their follow-up Honey in the Hive also delivered succinct pop songs any girl would fall for like a bushel of un-thorned roses. I go back a little with these guys over the year. Bret Tobias used to play drums in Moped & Sonny Sixkiller and were label mates of Aviso’Hara; as was Scott Jefferson the bassplayer who’s solo work was also on the same label with the Diane Linkletter Experience (Vital Cog Records)- We were a little family of indie bands. Before that Scott was also in Gerrymander Bob who also used to play with Aviso’ waaaaaaaaay back in the Brighton Bar days before grunge and music broke (pre-interwebs). Regardless these guys have been working on their pop music craft for some time and it’s super awesome to hear some material and a show coming out of the woodwork March 12th at John & Brenda’s. This is good for the Philly music scene.
If you dig early Costello, Big Star, Posies and your usual poptopia suspects you can put the Lovers right in the line-up. Their soaring guitars and sweeping vocal stylings drift you to different places like Peter Pan in the night could in theory make-up lines like “classic school girls and circus clowns”. A little dream pop never hurt anybody it’s a good thing they found some magic in the basement. The opener “Talon Show” is a acoustic ditty that is sweet as much as it is a vicious little love song. The regular mix of “Little Giant” is destined to some commercial placement that has the potential to bring these guys out of obscurity. It’s a pollination of Pernice Brothers and The Shins but somehow the song craft is all their own. Don’t get fooled by the “Walk This Way” beat as it takes a life of it’s own with this Haircut 100 feel. The thing is about guitar pop music; by it’s very nature it can’t exist on it’s own as it lives in a fishbowl that all these cats keep pawing at, trying to tip the water but the illusivenes little buggers are fast and ever changing colors. We’re happy to just listen and stare to the action over and over again as these songs are like charms on your high-school sweetheart’s wrist you can treasure for another 10 years!
Check them out live at their last farewell show in 2005
Misuser MP3 By Gerrymander Bob from Meat Town Shimmy Disc (1993) Never Gonna Tell MP3 by Diane Linkletter Experience from too hard to DISGUISE Vital Cog Records (2000) Recorded by Brad Morrison Halo MP3 By Sonny Sixkiller from this is your heaven. Features Bret on drums and songstress Kara Lafty guitar/vocals (Vital Cog 2000)
Sounds Like: Love Plus One MP3 by Haircut 100 from Pelican West (1982) One by One All Day MP3 by The Shins from Oh, Inverted World (2001) [BUY] There Goes The Sun MP3 By Pernice Brothers from Discover a Lovelier You (2005) [Buy]
The Young Leaves Life Underneath is all punk & shit
ALBUM REVIEW: Were happy to say we’ve been fans of The Young Leaves from Massachusetts since their first singles and happy to see them put a vinyl version with some of the tracks included on Life Underneath via Drunken Sailor Records. They wear their influences on their proverbial tattoo’d sleeves. It’s straight forward like Hüsker Dü, Dinosaur Jr., Jawbreaker were. The singer guitarist Christopher from the band will tell you that straight up. Their demands are simple and have four point win win situation. 1) get in the van 2) tour 3) Put out their records 4) Give them a floor to sleep on. In return they promise to rock and drink your beer. We think you should listen to these simple terms based solely on the fact they make good punk to get drunk with your buddies with. I bet if you put on Rancid along with The Leaves no one would be none the wiser. There may be less poser cali-punk and more heart in this trio’s distorted music than you might be able to handle but alas it won’t be the last time we led you someplace like the music you should expect in this dank basement.
Stuff we hear: Collide by Ff (aka fat Fuck) from We’re #1(1996) – Best NJ jawbreaker/mats sounding punk rock this side of the Hudson. When I listen to The Leaves I hear the heart of these guys just slaying it. Want MP3 by Jawbreaker from Unfun (1992)
ALBUM REVIEW:Le ButcherettesSin Sin Sin is some sabroso (delicious) rock via nuevo feminist and the multi talented Teri Gender Bender (Vocals/Keys/Guitar). Originated as a experimental duo with drummer Auryn Jolene in Guadalajara Mexico in 2007. They made it about the show complete with real pig head props (Which I thought you could only get away with that shit in Tijuana). When she slops the blood around her face like she got cut in a Rob Zombie movie in the seemingly anti-male video “I’m Queen” it quickly reminded me of the Australian singer from the Divinyls Christina Amphlett live performances (when they were punk) slopping lipstick all over her face. Le Butcherettes are a lot less pop and this breed of punk are not exactly touching themselves. The lyrics are equal part titillating as they are taunting. This is a female driven brain game though for sure. I know I’m going back but her look reminds of her voice (see Divinyls Roxy Music cover below) really too. This band is as edgy as they were in their early days. And luckily Teri has been empowered with more talent than Bikini Kill could ever had dreamed of with a nice share of literary references sprinkled about in the songs. One of my favorite songs on the record is “Dress Of” which is her just ranting and singing with just the drums wailing “take my dress off, take my fucking dress off- honey- honey o-o-o”. Who says songs need other instruments? Right after that one she adds a keyboard to the mix with the drums on “Empty Dimes” that has a Spoon thing going on with no guitar to be found.
This music is about the uncomplicated deep honest parts. Fuzzed out keyboard sounds and simple rock akin to Greg Dulli(The Afghan Whigs) but the female version with a sultry delivery of which maple trees will just pore out their sweet nectar if she happened to walk by. When she gets vicious from the ladies side of bar like on a track like “Bang!” You can’t help but think there is some Courtney Love angst of course (but not the fake crazy kind). But I think you need to look beyond the man killer because Teri is doing it from her soul and sure it’s dark like most young artists. If she were locked in some dismally lit room her soul would blow it up with her writing & playing and escape. What may seem like random episodes of passion orchestrated directly at you are in fact a fuck you to Judy Blume. Look what you did Teri like on “Henry Don’t Got Love” is great follow-up lead single to “I’m Queen” so fasten your pants. I can only imagine what the Henry video is going to be like!
Teresa Suaréz (Aka Teri Gender Bender) is US born to parent actors, moved to Mexico, started a band, had some differences with Jolene, moved permanently to LA and is now with her third drummer and a bass player. The coming long player via Rodriguez-Lopez Productions features all new songs since their debut EP Kiss & Kill (2008). All of the elements are in place for her success with some serious management in place most bands would kill to have behind them. It will be interesting to see how intensity builds-up. A whole load of shows are coming. With her in this round she has drummer Gabe Serbian and bassist Jonathan Hischke to help round out Le Butcherettes as a trio. Anyway, SIN SIN SIN is coming your way this May. Don’t say I didn’t warn you but in meantime if you get a chance check them out live and report in.
Get some: New York MP3 Short and sweet ode to golden whiskey and your hate. Ah the old grungy romantic nyc. Track 2 on SIN SIN SIN. Henry Don’t Got Love MP3 She gives a shout out to Henry Miller on this #1 hit from SIN SIN SIN. Kiss & Kill MP3 EP Title track
Sorta sounds like the naughty bits of: Love Is The Drug MP3 Roxy Music music cover by Divinyls 66 MP3 by The Afghan Whigs from 1965.
ALBUM REVIEW:Tom Williams and The Boat’s record Too Slow [Self Released – Coming Feb 21st] is actually like a nice cruise of genres between the righteousnesses campfire vamping of Nick Cave and the jagged orchestrated edges of David Gedge’s guitar play. Floating at sea are the sounds of our greatest minds in this vessel. Tom Williams rants are not all about maritime trips at all. Trust me I’d be the first one over board who would be hurling and begging for the shore line. These crooners takes you on a journey in particular on tracks like “Get Older” which has this fiddle playing that digs in deep revenge mode or a fight. There’s “24” which seems to be about a girl, varsity baseball and Oklahoma with somebody playing a PS2- poetic right? Needless to say there is a lots of variety on this record with a recognizable British swagger which seems to be making fun of teen cultures and gang fights. Regardless of the absurdity you could not ignore the narrative comparisons that might come-up. From either the likes of Billy Bragg, Brian Fallon or Craig “huck” Finn; Tom belongs to this new school of bands telling local stories that paint different parties, show you different post-cards from the edge of town. The fights are always same but everytime they happen you forget how you got there in the first place. So you drive in your cars and let these stories whiz you by as familiar scenery you may know already. Which might not be able to see unless they sung it to you. Mastered by few you buy the ticket and let The Boat drive because it’s familiar on the level that you can easily relate. This makes it authentic. Drink up my friends.
Sound like these other Story tellers: People Ain_t No Good MP3 by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds from The Boatman’s Call(1997) Venus MP3 by The Wedding Present from Saturnalia (1996) [Buy] Miles Davis & The Cool MP3 by The Gaslight Anthem from 59′ Sound [Buy] Never Had No One Ever (The Smiths) MP3 by Billy Bragg from The Smiths Is Dead. Walt Whitman’s Niece MP3 by Wilco & Billy Bragg sining the songs of Woody Guthrie he never wrote on Mermaid Avenue. [Buy]
ALBUM REVIEW: Firesuite – You’re An Ocean Deep, My Brother delivers on all sorts of levels. Imagine postal workers being let loose in an empty warehouse full of your unopened mail. With so many possibilities in these communications this band is here to make the rounds. Their stories are told through chilling guitar notes and none are spared during the assault of this shoegaze firestorm and a fire suit is indeed needed! The machine-gun tactics of the track “Sammy Davis Jr Jr” will wake your ass-up in a Municipal Waste company kind of way causing a ruckus when your hung-over in a earthquake in-between the dreamy guitar and male/female singing inter-play spread throughout this record’s songs. They are fallen angels putting you in a rock trance direct from the ministry of Heaven. The track SDJJ is actually named after the dog in movie the Everything Is Illuminated and the tune will surely get your attention as it rocks you out of the pleasant scene of your dream into an entirely different level. The 2112 bass playing drives some Toolesque sounds with a healthy walloping of guitar flange in particular on songs like “Beneath the roses.” In all this music will uplift your day and make it go much better like a pleasant note from a loved one on the fridge. You’ll hear the choruses and before you know it you’ll nod out to that dream again where some hot actress is singing Sci-Fi Lullabys in your ear.
Firesuite’s story is a “normal” one. Connected by equal parts melody and noise. Chris Anderson (vox, guitar), alongside Chris Minor (bass), Sarah Griffiths (vox, guitar) & Richard Storer (drums) deliver some pretty thick music all in here. Anderson met Storer dressed in white (not sure if they were his summer whites) and Minor while they were both unemployed taking a music course. They were fans of Griffiths’s who sang in a band called Bolster and they asked her to join. She’s been playing with the group for better part of year now. Influence wise it’s a eclectic mix. Anderson been listening to soundtracks, recently like “Inception” by composer Hans Zimmer. Storer listens to a lot of Jaco Pastorius and Sufjan Stevens, Chris Minor and Sarah listen to oodles of 4AD bands and the songs from Pingu. Which I think is part of the magic when the music comes together in this warm cocoon because if we all listened to just the Ramones we’d look like Joey Ramone as a butterfly. I asked Anderson some of the bands they think are very cool or need championing and he candidly mentioned two of Aereogramme’s new bands; Athletics and The Unwinding Hours are very, very cool. Mogwai’s new material sounds wonderful and Vessels.” Much inspiring which leads us to their video/single “Amity” cut by newbie auteur “Euston Piret“, which is the musical alter-ego of Ray Russell. This very cordial tune reminds us of a noisy mix of Stereolab and Sunny Day on that alone you should all be all over this band like hippies are to the 60’s to this re-imagined homage to The 90’s.
This music reminds of: Pillars MP3 by Sunny Day Real Estate’sHow It Feels to Be Something On (1998) or anything of their s/t pink one like Friday MP3 [Buy] Code Breaker MP3 by The Sleepover Disaster from their 2009 release via Devil in the Woods called Hover. TSD are from San Joaquin Valley in California and their music is vast like a desert storm. Kyberneticka Babicka Part 1 MP3 by Stereolab from Fab Four Suture [Buy] Knut MP3 by The Unwinding Hours
ALBUM REVIEW: Something between the electronic gadgetry of grandaddy, Rufus Wainwright’s vocal flair and Mike Peters’s acoustic Alarm marches is Joshua Flowers’s SOMASEKLondon Recordings. Floating in spacey vibrations plush with wall to wall carpeting set for that modern music you may imagine in A Clockwork Orange’s record store scene. Where they cater to a debonair and young Malcolm Mcdowell’s taste as he flips through records and picks up some play things for a quick roll in the hay. Other times there are some wicked guitar tones in particular on the track “Time Bomb” which scrambles in-between 1-2 drum machine beats but Joshua’s fancy sleeves certainly are most pronounced in the elevated break-up hit “Hologram”. I don’t know maybe this is truly sexy 70’s milko-bar-music but with less of a perverted Eno thing. You definitely may need a compass to navigate these dreamy pop songs but the fantasy will be safe as each of these tunes floats like their own secret magical ruin. Check it out!
Greek Song MP3 By Rufus Wainwright from his record Poses to see what we mean.
Q&A:: Joshua Flowers answers the dreaded questions which albums would you take with you to a deserted island and goes into the making of London Recordings on a laptop and corresponding via email with the mixer/producer “…felt old-fashioned… It was like working through morse code or something.” — Read more »
MUSIC REVIEW: Putting hair on a band based out of Brooklyn that sounds like a real rock band is not so difficult. I’m personally tired of bands with headbands and mustaches. That’s so 2010 on the bad breath-o-meter. Give me regular dudes who make music with a tight rythem section and a singer who has some British swagger although from North America and can hit some notes alla Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) on vocals any day and we’re in good shape. A sense of humor is optional at that point but sticking with any carny’s breakfast heroes storyline protects the Mojo community pretty well. Add some milk and Jack Pot, Chocferatu, Anton Tigrrre, Admiral Munch and Tweaks Bunny will tell you a story that will go on in infamy. So, here’s a concept video that came about after Jim the guitarist for Midnight Spin saw a mural in Williamsburg of cereal mascots decked out like murderous villains (You know like serial killers with a itchy trigger finger) with some help from Model Citizen Productions; whoala a rock crime caper video right of the box for their debut EP Through the Mojo Wire. Nice start for a new band as they prepare for their first tour and figure out how to keep gas in the van. The bass riffs on “Brooklyn’s Weary” and “Mr. Slate” have this cool distorted thing going on too as John Paul Jones is my witness. In fact the whole EP has charms that are worth chewing on. The Rivers Cuomo rock-n-roll mojo fan club is proud.
The band formed around 07 with some parts Boston and DC to solidify the line-up and your usual craig’s list nightmare auditions. It’s short and sweet and not a clunker to be had. Thus a EP you can take for a drive. Who wants filler anyway unless it’s in a donut? File under: Alternative rock with just enough grit and bounce to make the girls dance. Check them out! DOWNLOAD & LISTEN:Trigger Finger Itch MP3 by Midnight Spin.
Other songs about 12 0’Clock: Joe Strummer’s Midnight Dream by Angeldust (formerly Challenger) features Chris Hartford. Recorded at the Zion House of Flesh by Andrew Weiss At Midnight by The Mighty Lemon Drops from the CD Laughter (1989) Automatic Midnight by Hot Snakes s/t Midnight Cowboy by Cows from Cunning Stunts(2000)
ALBUM REVIEW: Please meet Sam Forrest’s 3rd solo effort No Imagination which finds him moving away from the straight up acoustic/folksy guy in the back shed to the do-it all himself rockband (including drums). This North Yorkshire creator/guitarist has added some noise on rediscovery of the sonic youth adding some nice layers of feedback to the palette of man vs songs and is at the top of his craft. No Imagination will give purveyors of sounds a couple subtle winterly chills that creeps in various textures along the way but even that would not do this release any justice. The music throughout seem to be telling us something; like on the song “The things you need” on the piano before it blares out into this lost episodic wall of feedback or some Jason Lytle(grandaddy) like dream in “Homesick Lullaby”. The problem is these are Sam’s dream-scapes and he’s owning them all like “silent actors with broken tongues” there is a great escape in the mindscape. Connecting the dots organically like the steps one makes along a venerated decision tree wrapped in the plain old frustrations of making music you like,etc. Slightly maddening for sure and then what would it be like if you had no thoughts to build on?
Somehow musicians like Sam get to the sweet spot. Some of the vocals remind me of the recorded style of Elliot Smith and the gospel harmonization of David Crosby from If I Could Only Remember My Name…. all this mixed together like a kids water color painting –a little bury at times but the choices of color seem just right in these portraits. These obfuscations and strong song sensibilities are not unlike The Posies with a Revolveresque influence beening called into the outbuilding where this music was recorded somehow but I’m not sure which song voodoo is more prevalent other than to say it’s spread out keenly with no drudgery on any given instrument. NI fires on all song cylinders not afraid to take risks in it’s travels.
I don’t think the journey to this point has been an easy one having his band Nine Black Alps being dropped by Island/Interscope Records for lack of sales (Happens a lot) and it obviously seems to have encouraged him to keep at it having had a taste of a band on the road to just keep making music with future releases planned out already. This is artist survival and I’ll say the instinct has enabled something really great. If that were not enough he also has project with his girlfriend Hayley Hutchinson called Sorry Kisses. OK, I’ll admit I never heard of either or Sam for that matter until literally 48 hrs ago but just goes to prove a point around the RSHQ. I still don’t know anything. The world has been flattened by the internet and anything can happen or maybe not but one thing is for certain it’s great listening to music that is the fruit of somebody else’s labor of love. Enjoy.
LISTEN & DOWNLOAD:Echo Godless MP3 by Sam Forrest from No Imagination [BUY]
Unremarkable People Confirmation Bias EP via Ourselves Collective
Album Review:Unremarkable People are my New favorite band on so many levels if life were a video game. The group is the brainchild of one known as B. Mandelbaum. Not a very rockstarish name but then again neither is singer/songwriter Burt Bacharach.
The evidence is in the words and melodies that are apologetically so and prolifically free. How else are kids supposed to work? Mandelbaum and his collective of friends (Dan, Adam, Tom, Steve, Christian, Jeremy, Bill, Matt, Rowen, Mike, Joe..) remind us sincerely musically of the one man show known as Los Halos lead by Samezvous aka Eli Wenger or East River Pipe.
One way to come up with huge discography is to never stop recording and to release as much material as you can as if your life depended on it. This is what Unremarkable People have done in the tradition of cooperatives. A don’t stop. Don’t look back Clash philosophy where you are dared to quit. Maybe they edit out the shit (or maybe not) and move on. Not sure if it applies here since there is one beating heart creating the material and lots of friends are involved. To make them just show up to the scene is probably a job in itself.
The evidence is the debut a 16 track epic that was recorded in different places in and around Brooklyn, Queens and Shirley NY called A Rare Condition, in This Day and Age(2009) but this is not what I’m here to talk about today. The second release is compromised of 5 EPs! Not singles or 7 inches. The latest of five final installments in series is called Confirmation Bias EP. This is manicmusic the sort that blasts out of confetti cannons for good reason at all other than to celebrate imbibing air. Pop music with a infectious melodic sting not unlike a needle prick but in the 2 1/2 minute variety that is sure to bring out your best most awkward dancy dance.
Shows:
Fri 12/10 Union Pool w/ Roadside Graves
Sat 12/18 Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt Christmas Spectacular @ SILENT BARN
Sun 12/19 Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt Christmas Spectacular @ THE OASIS
Fri 1/14/11 Brooklyn Fireproof East
Influences and stuff I hear in Unremarkable People but decide for yourself:
Baltimore (mp3) East River Pipe from Tape op [Buy]
Lioness (mp3) by Los Halos From Leaving VA and here’s an outtake called Loveless(mp3) that did not make it onto the album and was only available if you got the box set of cds mailed to you. This cd was called a new kind of joy. In the liner notes he goes on about that there was a girl that inspired LVA, then they broke-up and the friend thing was ruined when he played her the song and she laughed. Ouch. [Buy]
Album Review Radical Hips(EP): You never know what the week will bring sometimes. Either you’re in luck and you find money in a pocket or your inbox has a note from an old friend. Please meet Billy Alpha via Yab Yum Records. Most north Jerseyites know him from The Alphamales or his is more recent joint WJ & The Sweet Sacrifice. Solo and in his room Billy sings songs about his alarm clock as his girl makes sad faces on his arm. There are no solos just a man buried and hunkered over his acoustic guitar only reaching out to take a swig of some booze from a dirty glass that Bruce Springsteen may have touched once. The deep voice sounds somewhat like Nick Cave or Elvis but mellower walking you home in a wet silent snowy night. Where you may hear what silence sounds like. These are songs for the end of the night or the begining of your day depending on your alarm clock but if you listen carefully you can hear the clank of the beer bottles being cleaned up in-between chords and tracks.
Album Review: Oh, Thunder by Olympia Washington’s songster and enchantress Eleanor Murray. The tremelo timber of her voice could easily kick start any campfire with a few chords. The film visual are burning embers each embodying a thought or feeling. This is her third release coming out on Bicycle Records and first I’ve ever listened to so I’m a bit of newb. One of the stand-out tracks word-wise is “When A Heart Becomes A Heart” in the tradition of folk addressing these feelings. Creating a definition to song about crying and honesty. Another is a track called “Scream” which is photographically introspective and has a great example of her vocal detail abilities caring the sentiment around in voice while you look at her under a photo loop. This is really quite good so if you if you are into something mellowliciously Nico check her out.
MP3 Scream by Eleanor Murray from Oh, thunder [Buy]
Bonus MP3 Tracks: Jesus Of The Moon by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds from Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!! – Quit an awaking from this artist. Super mellow but yet totally musical and thick. You can hear the dust kicking in this song from the resurrected rock star. Abschied by Nico(1938-1988) from Desertshore(1970). I have no idea what she is singing about since this track is in German but interesting to know that the heroine died after being mis-diagnosed from a heart attacked while cycling. Ms. Murray’s voice reminded me of her — somehow sad in some way but as expressive.
Recent Comments