Video Break: Ra Ra Riot, “Can You Tell”
Somehow I missed Ra Ra Riot‘s sticky sweet video for “Can You Tell” but I’m fixing that now. Seriously how can you not love it for all it’s twee goodness?
Buy The Rhumb Line
Ick’s Pick (Week X): Cursive – ‘Mama, I’m Swollen’
This week I thought I’d adventure off to unfamiliar territory again. I just couldn’t get myself all geeked up to listen to the new Kelly Clarkson or Chris Cornell / Timbaland over and over. So I decided on Omaha’s Cursive, mostly because of their label, Saddle Creek, which was founded by Conor Oberst.
I can affirm, after a few listens, that:
- Cursive do indeed rock. And…
- Their drummer’s name is Cornbread Compton. That’s reason enough to buy this album as far as I’m concerned.
The album kicks off with “In the Now”, featuring a feedback/effects laden intro, and launching into the repeated chorus “Don’t wanna live in the now / don’t wanna know what I know”; followed up later with “So history repeats / ‘cause present won’t repent”. It’s short, simple and ferocious, like a lot of moments on this record. I find it pretty cathartic myself.
“From the Hips”, which the band kindly offers up gratis on their web site, starts off slow, before singer/guitarist Tim Kasher’s squealing “right?!” brings in the up tempo, double beat madness.
“I Couldn’t Love You” has Kasher channeling his inner Robert Smith – which makes sense – Cursive was picked by the Cure to open for them on their 2004 tour.
You won’t believe how soft and pleasant they can make a song called “We’re Going To Hell”. But there’s also an underlying doom and creepiness. The song has sort of a Pixies-like vibe going on too.
And the boys get downright evil on “Mama, I’m Satan”:
I’m writing out a confession
My fathers and brothers
Raped your sisters and mothers
We are the sons of butchers
All in all we’re pawns
The darkness of mankind stirs in us allSongs like “Mama, I’m Satan”, “Let Me Up”, and “Mama, I’m Swollen” – and really the feel of the record – take the listener into the darkness – some ugly fugly places. I feel like taking a shower and finding a church, and I’m not even that religious. Holy smokes…
For those looking for some quality power-indie-post-punk, and aren’t afraid to step into the shadows for a while, this album fits the bill.
Links: Official Site
Now Hear This: Best of the Inbox, Volume I
Editor’s Note: The sheer volume of new music that I get every day is overwhelming at best so in an effort to get the best of it out to you I’ve decided to start the “Now Hear This: Best of the Inbox” series. I’m not sure what the frequency will be yet, but I’ll make every attempt to get a couple of these up a month. Enjoy! – Michael
The Hush Now
Recalling the lush reverb drenched textures of early 90’s shoegaze and retrofitting it with the power pop sensibilities The Hush Now‘s self-titled debut is a solid listen and a must for fans of Guided By Voices. My current favorite track ,the appropriately titled “Subtle Like Bombs”, lulls you in with rich vocal harmonies and mesmerizing guitars only to abruptly end in transition.
Full Album Download: The Hush Now
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
The Deer Tracks
Swedish duo The Deer Tracks brings quirky electronic pop influenced post rock to the table on their latest release Aurora. The single “127sexfyra” bubbles along over various plinking and plucked chimes and horn beds with whispered vocals.
“127sexfyra” (mp3) by The Deer Tracks
Live: My Brightest Diamond Live at Le Poisson Rouge
My Brightest Diamond, “From the Top of the World” (Video)
Shara Worden‘s voice is nothing short of truly amazing, add to it a string quartet and you’ve got a recipe for something astounding. Recorded back in December you can view the full concert at Baeblmusic.
Buy A Thousand Shark’s Teeth: Amazon | iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
100 Words on “Daylight”
I honestly don’t think that I’ve ever taken a cue from MTV but I was flipping through the channels and came across the video for “Daylight (mp3)” by NYC hipster hype du jour Matt & Kim. The hook was embedded deep and after finding the track (free & legal, go figure) it’s gotten more then a few spins in just a few days. It’s fun yet abrasive and quite frankly disposable, but I dig the hell out of it. I played it for my wife and she dropped this gem “It’s catchy, but catchy doesn’t mean its good”. Take that Brooklyn!
[audio:01 Daylight.mp3]
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
The Olympic Symphonium
The Olympic Symphonium – More in Sorrow Than in Anger (Forward Music Group, 2008)
What is it about the great white north that fosters such beautiful, introspective and intimate music? I suppose that I could make some crack about folks being locked up in their cabins for months on end, but in reality it’s more attributed to the fact that the Canadian government actually provides funding for the arts. Regardless, there is an abundance of wonderful music coming from our neighbors to the north and my most recent find is The Olympic Symphonium.
The trio of singer/songwriters share vocal duties with a roster of guest musicians filling in the blanks. Contemplative and complex the 10 tracks on More in Sorrow Than in Anger range from pop tinged twangy folk to heartfelt dirge. Where this record truly shines is when it’s pared down to the trio such as on “Malleable” where the intimacy abounds to the point where you can hear birds chirping in the background, the creak of a chair and the slight harmonic overtones of the guitar.
This is a perfect Sunday morning (or snowy afternoon) record. It stood up to many back to back repeat listens and did not for a moment lose its charm. Take a listen to the sunny “Intentions Alone” for a view into More in Sorrow Than in Anger.
The Olympic Symphonium – Intentions Alone (mp3)
Alan Parsons in a Winter Wonderland
If I knew Photoshop / Image Ready a little better, I would’ve added some sweet wintry sparkles to this picture of Alan Parsons. But it involves things like rasters and vectors and “noise”, and I’m just not up to that level yet.
As the man behind the Alan Parsons Project, and the man who manned the controls in studio for Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon, Mr. Parsons is clearly not someone to be messed with. But Jason Lytle and his now defunct band Grandaddy had some fun with him in this holiday ditty.
Jason’s web site has shown promises of his first solo album sometime in 2008, but the clock is ticking, and there is no word from Mr. Lytle. So enjoy this. And if you don’t have The Sophtware Slump, go get it!
Grandaddy – Alan Parsons in a Winter Wonderland
Jenny Lewis
So Jenny Lewis has been doing her thing for a while now – solo, with the Watson Twins, and with her band Rilo Kiley. She’s also a former child actor who moved on to the righteous musical path.
But it took me until last week to finally discover her.
It all started when I stumbled across the video of “Rise Up With Fists”, a song from her 2006 debut solo album ‘Rabbit Fur Coat‘ (with the Watson Twins). The video is a parody of the old C&W variety show Hee Haw, and also features Sarah Silverman. I’m not sure if it’s from Sarah’s show or if it’s a music video of its own. But suffice it to say that I’ve watched this video about 50 times over the past week or so.
A couple days ago, I was watching it, and looked behind me to see my kindergarten age daughter transfixed as well. She now proudly states that her three favorite artists are “Gogol Bordello, Led Zeppelin, and Jenny Lewis”. Never mind the fact she thinks Led Zeppelin is Jack Black, because “The Immigrant Song” was in ‘School of Rock’. But that’s quite a top three for a girl about to turn 5.
But back to Jenny Lewis. I love the folksy/indie/country vibe she exudes. I love her stage presence (watch her recent Letterman performance below). I love the effortlessness and clean quality of her singing voice. And face it, she’s pretty easy on the eyes too.
Here’s “Rise Up With Fists”
And here’s Jenny and her band with Elvis Costello, from last Monday’s Late Show with David Letterman. The song is “Carpetbaggers”, from her most recent album, ‘Acid Tongue‘, which came out a couple months back. This is a country-rock barnburner. I love this tune. And like I said, the presence she exudes…. Great stuff.
Me gusto Jenny Lewis!
Band of Horses recording in Muscle Shoals
I can easily say that for me, Band of Horses has had the fastest trajectory from off-the-radar status to obsessive, can’t-get-enough status of any band in a long, long time. And they’re just getting started, with only two studio albums to date.
A couple weeks ago, the boys made the pilgrimage to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, a legendary town in the music recording spectrum. They have holed up at Fame Recording Studios to record their third album.
Keep up with the band on their blog. They just updated it with some great pics from Saturday’s Bridge School Benefit concert.
Fame studios has hosted the likes of Duane Allman, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, and a bunch of others. Hell, even the Backstreet Boys, Liza Minnelli and the Osmonds have recorded there.
Here’s a legendary track that came out of Fame Studios…
Wilson Pickett w/ Duane Allman – “Hey Jude”
100 Words on Time
“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.” (Douglas Adams)Time may be on Mick’s side but these days I can’t seem to find time to dedicate to writing insightful reviews of the stacks of CD’s sitting on my desk and all the news swirling around the internets. Did you hear that Chinese Democracy is actually coming out? I could go on for hours about that one but alas, the salt mines are beckoning for my return and I want to be sure to have time for The Friday Five tomorrow. To tide you over until tomorrow here are three rather disparate variations on the theme for your enjoyment. Shalom!
The S.O.S Band – Take Your Time (Do It Right), Part 1 (mp3)
Skid Row – Wasted Time (mp3)
Willie Nelson – Medley: Funny How Time Slips Away / Crazy / Night Life (mp3)
