Hear This...Guards- New Single "Do It Again" / "Swimming After Dark"

In the process of trying to fully understand the term 'pop wave doom,' I came across a new single from NY rockers Guards called 'Do It Again.'  As the seasons change and us in the USA have begun to adjust to the harsh realities of winter, this song can do nothing but bring us back to the warm feeling of summer with its catchy melodies and sing along mentality.  While it's definitely a killer, upbeat track, I'm not exactly sure how well it qualifies as pop wave doom.  So how can you define these guys? Fortunately, I came across another track of theirs, 'Swimming After Dark' which came out about the same time as previously posted ‘I See It Coming.’ After giving it a listen, I assured that it might point me back towards this mysterious genre. With a similar sound to their song 'I See It Coming,' ‘Swimming After Dark’ is definitely a great track complete with its own orchestral pieces giving the song a beautiful and rich sound differentiating it from other NYC mod-rock songs.

Audiovisuals...Watch Guards and the Magik Magik Orchestra perform "I See It Coming"

      Fishing the web for music in lieu of my final exams, I came across this stunning orchestral rendition of Guards' song "I See It Coming."  Coming across this song about a year ago, I instantly became a fan of this band's style- that of which I couldn't exactly put my finger on.  They were distinct enough from general rock n roll, but to the point were all their songs sort of carried something similar. I know, huge help with that last remark.  "A song like this one only brings to mind a collection of words like 'joyful pain,' or 'dark beauty.'" Still unclear, one site tags their music as 'pop wave doom.' "Perfect!" And that was enough to call me a fan.

      And finally to the point- I came across this adaptation of "I See It Coming" and thought it worth posting.  Its definitely a cool version, and this case, a rarity amongst renditions to be on par with its predecessor.  I quickly came to know it as the perfect farewell/conclusion/finale song song ever.  Its shouted towards you as if to be a poem of protest, shaking off the bleakness and disparity of life.  "Calling the living to go out and live"....I don't know exactly.

      Placing it under the term 'Audiovisual', I go out on a limb and imply that there's also some superior visual quality that deserves not to be ignored- hence the term. For this song, what you see is what you hear. Its nothing quite special. Preformed in front of a quaint symphony of brass, string and piano alongside a real live choir, all amidst the eerie backdrop of a Church, that of which bears the presence of  hazy morning light all around its inside. Oh and by the way, its filmed in black and white. What more can I say to it? Check it out.

Hear This...The Black Keys- Run Right Back

On the eve of their highly anticipated 7th full length album, El Camino, the Black Keys released a fantastic new track 'Lonely Boy' alongside a similarly fantastic video showcasing some of the best dance moves I've ever seen.  On that note, listeners were given another single of the new album titled 'Run Right Back.' With a similar upbeat tempo to 'Lonely Boy' and in contrast to some of their previous work, we can get a sense that the new album will be something a little different. But with these two singles to show for what's ahead, I don't see this as a bad thing at all. Unfortunately, no new video for this one.

Useless Clatter...Mysterious Black Keys Dancer Revealed

A few weeks ago I posted the Black Key's new single 'Lonely Boy' with a goofy video of a man dancing and lip singing the entire song to perfection. Well fame arose from this man's moves as he appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show recently for an interview and dance demo with Ellen. His name is Derrick Tuggle and apparently he is a struggling actor pursuing his dreams and trying to make it big in Hollywood- quite a guy. I still say he's an excellent dancer. See for yourself.

Hear This [Audiovisuals]...Foster the People "Call It What You Want" | "Helena Beat"

I'll admit to being late on these two, but if you haven't already heard, Foster the People came out with two new singles earlier this week. After the big buzz that formed behind "Pumped Up Kicks"  and "Houdini" earlier this year, I'm not surprised how similar these songs are to the two previous singles.  But why fix what's not broken?  There's no doubt everyone will be pleased with these tracks, so take a listen and watch the official music videos too.

"Call It What You Want"


"Helena Beat"

Hear This...Blouse- Blouse

Check out the debut feature from Blouse, a dream pop trio from Portland, Oregon.  Released by Captured Tracks last Tuesday (11/1), the LP has been given stellar reviews thus far. (7.4- Pitchfork) Give it a listen below.

Blouse's S/T LP by The FADER

Hear This [Audiovisuals]...The Black Keys "Lonley Boy"

Here's the latest single from The Black Keys titled "Lonely Boy."  This is their first release since the highly-acclaimed Brothers album came out in May of last year landing itself in the top tier of most "Best of the Year" lists (always behind My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy- no grudges though) .  Its been a while since we've heard these guys but this song was well worth the wait.  "Lonely Boy" is the first single off their seventh album, titled El Camino, due out on December 6th.   Its much like the same edgy, blues sound the Black Keys are known for, but with a faster tempo.  Overall I love the song and think its just the right amount of new that these guys needed.  Lastly, rumor has it there's one more single to be released before off the album before 12/6 titled "Little Black Submarine," so be on the look out.

+ need new dance moves? look no further 

Rock 'n Roll the Camera...Pearl Jam Twenty Premiere

Be sure to tune into PBS this Friday, October 21 for the world-wide premiere of Pearl Jam Twenty.  Celebrating and glorifying one of the most prolific bands of rock 'n roll, director Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Fast Times At Ridgemont High), follows the band from the beginning through various interviews, concert footage and much more.  Lots of what's seen in the film are rare or previously unseen footage compiled together making it a truly unique and new experience for even the most die-hard Pearl Jam fans.  Check out the trailer below.

Audiovisuals...Official Video for Best Coast's "Our Deal"

     Although well into October, I thought I would salvage the last few days of good/acceptable weather before plunging into the dark and dreary days of winter by posting something Best Coast.  Labeled as garage rock, garage pop, surf rock and indie, above all, the music of Best Coast can be defined as good old "summer music."  While dropping their debut album, Crazy For You, last summer to rave reviews, the band recently added an official music video to their list, directed by none other than Drew Barrymore.

     As her directorial debut, I got to give Barrymore props for this piece.  Containing elements from "West Side Story" and Romeo and Juliet, this video is more than just a regular, run of the mill MTV music video.  In my opinion, Barrymore's work is more than a music video, its a short film, complete with main characters, a conflict and resolution scenario, and a twist that even David Fincher couldn't devise. All in all, its worth checking out.

+Running Time- 10:39
+Starring- Chloe Moretz, Tyler Posey, Miranda Cosgrove
+Track List (in order)- "Our Deal" "Boyfriend" "Honey" "I Want To"

Get More: MTV Supervideo, Music, Best Coast, Best Coast, Music, More Music Videos

Hear This...Trent Reznor's "Dragon Tattoo" Score

     After winning an Oscar for Best Original Score for "The Social Network," composer and Nine Inch Nails front man, Trent Reznor is teaming up with director David Fincher once again to provide the original score for Fincher's latest project- adapting Stieg Larsson's best selling book "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo."  It is the first book of Larsson's Millennium Series, all of which will be adapted to the screen by Columbia Pictures. While set for a December 21 release, samples of the film's score have been released and can be heard below.  Also, Reznor can be heard collaborating with Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer Karen O covering Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" in a teaser for the film, which can be seen below. 

Useless Clatter...R.E.M. Calls It Quits

Unfortunately its true, after 31 years, legendary rockers R.E.M. officially disbanded today via a post on their website. Here's a quick stint of what was said-
 "To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening." R.E.M.

More can be heard from each of the members at their website-                                           http://remhq.com/news_story.php?id=1446

Members of the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame, R.E.M. definitely made their mark on the rock scene. To many, they are cited as the ones who developed rock into "alternative" defining themselves amongst New Wave and Post-Punk counterparts of the '80s. In total R.E.M released 15 albums, most recently "Collapse Into Now" (2011) and have won 3 Grammy Awards.

Hear This...Dum Dum Girls- Only In Dreams

Listen to the new LP by the Dum Dum Girls- Only in Dreams before it's release on 9/27/11.
Dum Dum Girls - Only in Dreams by subpop
Music provided by SoundCloud via Sub Pop Records

Album Review...St. Vincent- Strange Mercy LP

        I had the opportunity of seeing St. Vincent around this time last year at a free outside concert in conjunction with my university.  To be honest, the quad was not packed with hundreds of fans sporting St. Vincent t-shirts, but at the same time, I don’t think that's her intention.  What I saw was a delicate yet powerful singer-songwriter and I didn't think much more than that. "Sure, I liked her," I told my roommate afterwards.

      A year later, her third album, Strange Mercy, has been getting rave reviews from the likes of Pitchfork, Rolling Stone Magazine as well as NPR, and you know when NPR approves, it’s got to be good.  They seem to have evolved more into the mainstream youth culture pop output and less of what your mom listens to as she drives you to soccer practice, as they are currently streaming the album of their website-  http://www.npr.org/2011/09/04/139946514/first-listen-st-vincent-strange-mercy (But that’s certainly a different topic all on its own.) 

      For Strange Mercy, it’s as though you have to publish your own bad review for this thing to have any negative publicity attached to it.  While obvious differences appear on this album compared to her previous works, Marry Me (2007) and Actor (2009), the change has come with widespread approval.  Pianos and violins have been swapped for the rougher, edgier sounds of electronic drums and synthetic tones.  From the first track, "Chloe in the Afternoon", the heavy synth-sound and electric riffs prove that she’s one to take seriously on this new style.  And while there seems to be a wayward swing towards pop-music and collaborations between traditional sounds and that of synthesizers and techno beats, Annie Walker manages to work it to perfection.  While the big buzz behind the album is the new sound, songs such as "Surgeon" and "Dilettante" hold a slower tempo that most St. Vincent fans can recall from previous tracks. On the last track of the album, "Year of the Tiger," Annie sings the line "Oh America can I owe you one?" as if indebted toward her listeners.  I think at this point, however, we owe her one.

      St. Vincent is definitely not the first artist to make an ambitious change in her musical style, but what can surely be said is that it works well- really well.  Looking back a year, I imagine it would be difficult to book a free St. Vincent concert like that again for some time.  My guess is that if I want to see her preform again, I’ll have to pay for the ticket, but that’s not such a bad thing at all.        - 8/10 

Strange Mercy was released on September 13, 2011 by 4AD Records


     Top Tracks:                                                 What They Say:
Chloe in the Afternoon                                Rolling Stone- 4½ out of 5
Cruel                                                            Pitchfork- 9 out of 10
Strange Mercy                                             Spin- 9 out of 10
Year of the Tiger

WELCOME

So here it is, the first post of what should be many as part of my new blog/hobby "Tune Clatter." Within the topic of music, plenty will be posted here. New artists and releases will be the main purpose here but that doesn't mean everything else will be ignored. What ever comes to mind will be the case here.  Please feel free to comment on any post, recommend similar artists, etc- keep it interesting.  Enjoy!