Pomegranates are good for you
I have a love/hate relationship with my city: I love to hate it and I hate to love it. One of the things I do love about this place is that, on occasion, Cincinnati can produce some pretty amazing musicians. Like one of my current favorite bands, Pomegranates.
Even though these guys are local, and play out a fair amount, I hadn’t managed to catch them live until earlier this summer when they opened for Ra Ra Riot (also amazing) at The Gypsy Hut here in Cincinnati. My first thought during their set was, “these boys are adorable!” I don’t know if that’s necessarily the image they’re going for, but it’s the truth.
Adorableness aside, they are charismatic, talented performers and have put out some incredible music. Reviews I’ve read have compared them to early Modest Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie (two bands I’ve been over for a long time, so I find that kind of funny). I was completely blown away by them and when I learned that they were one of the openers for Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s a couple of weeks ago, that was enough to get me to haul my lazy ass down to that show, despite the fact that no one would go with me (Margot was good, too).
You can find pretty much everything you might want to know about them on their MySpace, their blog or on their label’s site (incidentally, they are labelmates with two of my favorite Chicago bands, Baby Teeth and All City Affairs). They are touring quite a bit this month, including dates with Ra Ra Riot, French Kicks, Headlights and stops at the Monolith Festival and the Midpoint Music Festival (which I have to miss because I’ll be at a conference for work…grrr!), so you should check them out if they’re coming to a city near you. Besides recommending you buy their stuff, I also suggest you download their woxy.com Lounge Acts (they have two).
Pomegranates – Whom/Who (mp3)
Pomegranates – We Could’ve Escaped, But No One Was Interested (mp3)
Conor Oberst’s Sausalito
With his new album, Conor Oberst is right back to the rootsy vibe he had going with Bright Eyes’ great album ‘I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
‘. Conor recorded the album in Tepoztlán, Mexico (a town outside of Mexico City).
It’s this tune that suits my taste like hand to glove. It restores my faith in the man after watching his – umm – sub par job of sitting in with the Boss on “Thunder Road” early this year. All is forgiven.
we should move to Sausalito
living’s easy on a house boat
let the ocean rock us back and forth to sleepin the morning with the sunrise
look in the water see the blue sky
as if heaven has been laid there at our feetConor Oberst – Sausalito (mp3)
Buy Conor’s brand new self-titled album: Conor Oberst
Oberst Linkage: Official Site | MySpace
First Listen: Tea Leaf Green
Recalling shades of perennial Ickmusic faves Band of Horses, Tom Petty, and Wilco, Bay Area band Tea Leaf Green landed in the inbox for a first listen of the first single from their new release Raise Up the Tent. Vivid and funky, the tune evokes the scents and sounds of summer. Produced by David Lowery (Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven, Counting Crows), if this is any indication of what’s on the rest of the record I can’t wait to hear it.
In the meantime check out the single with me.
Tea Leaf Green – Red Ribbons (MP3)
Buy Raise Up the Tent: Amazon | iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
The Tea Leaf Green is currently spreading the love across the country and the tour dates are after the jump.
Missed the Boat!
Hearing a song like this makes me think I should own a lot more Modest Mouse. “Missed the Boat” is just a great song. And that’s James Mercer from the Shins providing the background vocals.
I’d post the Mp3, but this is Sony/BMG, and it’s Modest Mouse’s latest album. The internet police suspended my site a few weeks back, so I give you the YouTube video. Paranoid? A tad.
Sorry co-workers – our evil corporate web site blocker will ensure we don’t enjoy this quality tune from our office chairs.
Vid…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tOpdH8qC0 336 278]And hear the full track streamin’ on Last.fm.
Northern Exposure: Tagaq
Bizarre, diverse, expansive, extraordinary, sensual and provocative, the sophomore release Auk/Blood from Canadian artist Tagaq brings to mind a flurry of metaphors that all lead to the summation of a single word; Unique. As an experience I can only liken it to the first time I heard Sigur Rós or Dead Can Dance, stylistically this is profoundly and utterly unlike anything that I’ve ever heard before. There is a familiar quality in the textures, organic and primal and yet this is far from familiar. Dynamic to the point where you sometimes have to strain to discern the whisper, and intense to the point of rapture (go ahead and try not to get completely lost in the seduction of “Hunger”), Auk/Blood leaves no corner of the subconscious unturned.
Tagaq is vocalist/Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq Gillis, together primarily with violinist Jesse Zubot and featuring guest vocals from Mike Patton, rapper Buck 65 and beat box artist Shamik Bilgi. Auk/Blood is due to be released July 29th – until then, check out the track “Fire ~ Ikuma (feat. Mike Patton)” and let us know your thoughts.
Sorry for the file mix up, but it should all be better now!
Tagaq – Fire ~ Ikuma (feat. Mike Patton) (MP3)
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
Levi Goes *Pop*
I was recently implored to check out Pop Levi, whose music was described to me as “Bowie meets Prince.” Ummm…sign me up!
Only a year after his first full length, The Return to Form Black Magick Party, Liverpool’s own Levi Pop is set to release a follow up this summer, titled Never Never Love. Surprisingly, the Bowie meets Prince descriptor is somewhat accurate, although there’s a good helping of electro pop thrown in as well. It also reminded me a bit of what I’ve heard from Alan Wilkis.
I’ve listened to the album a few times now, and continue to enjoy it more with each listen, particularly the dance-oriented tracks. Here are two of my favorites:
Pop Levi – “Wannamama”
And the video for the title track, Never Never Love:
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=SNLkZJ7kALU 336 278]Never Never Love is slated for a July 15 release, but it appears that it will only be available as an import for now. But keep an eye out – I’m sure a US release (digital or physical) will follow.
Jon Regen: Live!
Maestro (and all around nice guy) Jon Regen checked in from the road with an outstanding live recording of his single “Let It Go” from the record of the same name (which you may recall got a good bit of spin time here at Ickmusic East). Recorded in Vienna, Austria it features Jon in a trio setting burning up the keys. Jon has a couple more dates lined up in Italy and will be visiting the UK in September. Hopefully he’ll have a few US dates in there as well.
Jon Regen – Let It Go (live) (MP3)
Tour Dates:
July 19: Griziane Festival – Griziane, Italy
July 20-28: La Ghironda Festival – Puglia, Italy
September 25-27: Pizza Express Jazz Club – London, UKBuy Let It Go: CDBaby | iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
Band of Horses at Amoeba Records (full performance)
Wow!
Looking forward to Austin City Limits Festival. The more I hear (and see), the more I like.Thanks Amoeba Records.
Digging the Virtual Crates: Catherine Wheel
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PmB3qs6lC0 425 355]
Catherine Wheel – Delicious (Video)I hear that Rob Dickinson is re-releasing his 2005 solo debut Fresh Wine for the Horses on June 10th with a bonus disc of acoustic Catherine Wheel tracks. I can’t wait to pick this up myself.
Pre-Order Fresh Wine for the Horses: Amazon
Bringing Quirky Back: Alan Wilkis
Falling on the right side of fine line between contrived and convincing, Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist Alan Wilkis brings an indie sensibility to the electro-pop sound of the 80’s with a huge dollop of soul on his solo debut Babies Dream Big. From ABBA to Zappa the entire lexicon of pop is well represented and feels so, so good. Among the 10 cuts you’d be hard pressed to find a moment that is not crafted with the utmost respect for it’s influences which range from the Stevie Wonder-esque funk of “It’s Been Great” to the 50’s Motown of the tender “I Wanna Know” with nods to Prince, ELO and Nintendo along the way. This is a must-have for all fans of all things 80’s. Don’t just take my word for it, check out my favorite track “It’s Been Great” below and hop aboard yourself.
Alan Wilkis – It’s Been Great (MP3)
