Thursday, July 12, 2012

Useless Clatter...First Cuts/Demos- Tennis, Cults, The Brian Jonestown Massacre

      Like a writer's rough draft, a song goes through countless edits and re-edits as demos before the finished product finds itself on an album.  Sometimes big changes are made once a band is settled into the recording studio and begin to play. The Rolling Stones originally wanted "Start Me Up" to have a more reggae feel to it, until four years in the recording studio turned it into the song we know and love today.  In most cases though, it's just a tweak or two that comes by way of the producer or sound engineer meant to "clean up" a song and give it a crisp finish.  These demo tracks, or first cuts as they are sometimes called, often get tossed out and forgotten once the band discovers the perfect sound, records it and calls it a day.  
      In some cases, bands save their demos and first cuts to be released as promotional material for a forthcoming album.  The songs are let free into the realms of the internet and find their way onto various music blogs, tabloids and websites taken as evidence for what to expect next from the band.  We sit and listen to these first cuts as the band heads back to the studio to work the final nooks and crannies for another, better release.

[Personally I enjoy the Tennis demo versions better than the actual album tracks]





TENNIS
demo/first Cut                                                                          released on CAPE DORY  [2011]
Baltimore by Tennis on Grooveshark Baltimore by Tennis on Grooveshark

demo/first Cut                                                                           released on CAPE DORY  [2011]
South Carolina by Tennis on Grooveshark                                 South Carolina by Tennis on Grooveshark

CULTS
demo/first Cut                                                                         released on CULTS  [2011]
Most Wanted by Cults on Grooveshark                                Most Wanted by Cults on Grooveshark

THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE
released on TAKE IT FROM THE MAN  [1996]                         re-released on STRUNG OUT IN HEAVEN  [1998]
Dawn by The Brian Jonestown Massacre on Grooveshark                                Dawn by The Brian Jonestown Massacre on Grooveshark

Monday, June 11, 2012

Hear This...Stream Demos/First Cuts by Blackfeet Braves

Fresh off the latest post dealing with the staggering differences between a band's initial rough first cuts and the remastered album songs, we here at TUNEclatter (hah, there's only one person here) dug up a goldmine of rough cuts from a relatively unknown outfit located deep in the valleys of southern California by the name of Blackfeet Braves. 

Who Are They?
As far as any background info goes on these guys, I know just about as much as you all do.  This could be one guy or it could be an eighteen person hippie-colony along the lines of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.  Who knows. Few details are given concerning who they are.  However, I see that they do have a variety of shows coming up in California so I'm pretty sure they are real.  But their name bearing resemblance to a real group of Native American tribes of northern America could lead to another theory.  For all I know, this could really be a pack of wild Indians sitting in a tee-pee making psychedelic riff-raff as they smoke piece pipes.  Just sayin'...

Friday, June 1, 2012

Free Music Fridays...#3

+I've made a bit of a change to these Free Music Fridays worth pointing out: The link next to DWNLD is no longer a download link, (assuming you could all decode DWNLD to mean "download").  Instead, I embedded the download link into the word DWNLD, so clicking on the word will lead you to the link to grab your free song.  Now the URL to the right of that is a link to the artist's website/band page if anyone has the immediate desire to learn more about the band.

1. "Chasing My Mind" Holograms
With a bit of revved up 90s arcade-like techno thrown into the mix, this song steers back to the nostalgic days of Nintendo when punk rock was fast, messy and unbearably raw.
DWNLD | http://capturedtracks.com/artists/holograms/

2. "Flesh Dance" Gothic Tropic
Vibrant little piece of psych-pop with perfect impromptu-sounding guitars and smooth bass line.  The words take a bit a backseat here and allow everything to mesh together perfectly- not a single piece commanding the other.
DWNLD | http://gothictropic.bandcamp.com/

3. "If You Want It" TV Girl
Fresh and delightfully cheery song about the harmonizing "upsides" of one-night stands.  Sleigh bells always make things more pleasant.  

DWNLD | http://tvgirl.bandcamp.com/

4. "Henrietta" Yeasayer
A vibrant, swirling mix of fanning strings, beats and bops with a T.Pain auto-tune tossed in at the end to break it down.  This time, it actually sounds good.

DWNLD | http://www.myspace.com/yeasayer

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Hear This...Stream Gothic Tropic's Awesome Problems EP


      
"They have the summer songs that blow 'Pumped Up Kicks' out of the California Pacific..." [Straight from their own bio page]  I'm not totally sure who or what designates a song to be a summer song, though it has always been the whistling in 'Pumped Up Kicks' that did it for me. 
      But this Cali trio goes way beyond whistling. Sure they don’t stand a chance overtaking Foster The People with the catchiest song ever written because frankly no one does, not even Lady Gaga
      Gothic Tropic took the handbook on “How to Make a Catchy Song Remain No. 1 on iTunes All Summer” and threw it out the window.  They take the atypical and often overused jangly guitar sound and add some zing to it. In their songs “Monkey Bars” and “Kill Lloyd Opus,” they throw in the occasional bongos, maracas, hand claps and distorted guitar riffs wherever they deem necessary. It’s an almost organic approach to music where a little Do-It-Yourself and impromptu touch ups are welcomed and encouraged. The end result actually sounds quite organized. Whether or not they blow out “Pumped Up Kicks” is debatable but no doubt, if I had the suitable conditions I would certainly add Gothic Tropic to my “Late Night Summer Barbecue on the Beach” playlist.


+ Gothic Tropic is offering a free download of the last song on the EP "Flesh Dance."  It will be added as a part of Free Music Fridays which I will post tomorrow.  [LINK]

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Useless Clatter...2012 Album Releases [June]


Here's a general list of the albums I am most excited to hear when they release in June.  Its a good mix of new bands with debuts (Friends, solo Glen Hansard) as well as some veteran rockers breaking a sleepy hiatus (Smashing Pumpkins, Neil Young + Crazy Horse).  I even threw DMX up on the list too for some good fun, despite the fact that his music is still angry as hell.  It's all fun and anyways even without DMX,  June looks to be a terrific month for music.



June 5
Crocodiles – Endless Flowers
Crocodiles - Endless Flowers


Friends – Manifest!



Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Hear This...Stream Foxygen's New EP "Take The Kids Off Broadway"

      From the same label that brought you the San Fran rock band Girls, Jagjaguwar Records moves across the country to grab a group of up and coming rockers hailing from the Empire State.  They call themselves Foxygen and these guys have generously decided to stream their second EP "Take The Kids Off Broadway" for free via their Bandcamp site.
      Describing Foxygen is no small task.  It took me a while.  Sure they're indie rock, but to pinpoint that sound is something else.  I hear something like a mix of MGMT psychedlia fused with the loose, jangly texture of The Strokes. A little Mick Jagger doesn't fail to show up either, especially on "Waitin' 4 You."


Here's the full track list-
1. Abandon My Toys  6:04
2. Make It Known  4:51
3. Take The Kids Off Broadway  3:14
4. Waitin' 4 You  4:07
5. Teenage Alien Blues  10:05
6. Why Did I Get Married  4:03 
7. Middle School Dance Song (For Richard Swift)  3:58

Monday, May 21, 2012

Five Songs From...The Black Keys

If Brothers was their breakout album in 2009, then the Black Key's seventh album El Camino, released last December and debuting at number 2 on the Billboard 200, was certainly their most widely heard, appreciated, Googled, etc.  It only took seven albums for everyone to realize how talented and widely appealing they could be.  Even in their earliest days as two college drop outs playing music in a small town in Ohio, their sound, performance style and energy all pointed towards something great.  Nonetheless, they sat patiently without a care for fame and produced a stellar array of rock n' roll worth revisiting.

Formed back in 2001 and consisting of singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney, the Black Keys were formed at a time when rock 'n roll had slowly seceded its monopoly hold of American ears in favor of the fast emerging hip-hop and R & B scenes.  Rock still had its big hitters in Pearl Jam, The Foo Fighters and Green Day, but at the time, it seemed no one could outsell Eminem, 'N sync or The Backstreet Boys.  As a result, the Black Keys came along during a time where rock formed itself on "revival" acts.  Post-punk revival was headed by acts like The Strokes and Interpol, while garage revival came back with The White Stripes and The Black Keys.  The revival of the latter genre meant a return to the raw sound and sheer simplicity formed by early blues rock 'n roll.  Recorded in Carney's basement, their debut album The Big Come Up did just that.  Stripped down guitars, drums and that's basically it.  

Met with some small, initial success, Auerbach and Carney remained a relatively unknown and mainly an "underground" act until the release of 2010's Brothers which earned them three Grammys including Best Alternative Music Album.  With this and the release of their latest album El Camino, the Black Keys have established themselves as something far greater than just two guys "reviving" old tunes.  Selling out their first stadium concert late last year, it's obvious they've done just that.  

Friday, May 18, 2012

Free Music Fridays...#2

1. "To Be Young" Two Wounded Birds
Alternating male and females vocals alongside the coarse, almost spontaneous lo-fi guitar riffs give the songs a sturdy frame with a warm heart.
 DWNLD | http://www.1forthepeople.com/2012/05/new-music-two-wounded-birds-to-be-young.html#more |

2. "Waiting In The Wings" Big Wave Riders
By the name, Big Wave Riders where their surf mantra on their sleeve, but behind the fuzzy jangles is a hint of Brit Pop influence on lead singer Teppo's voice that blends ever so nicely.  Did I mention they are from Finland? DWNLD | http://www.1forthepeople.com/2012/05/new-track-big-wave-riders-waiting-in.html#more |

3. "BC" Glaciers
A drowsy little track, not as eager in tempo as the first two. Soft, outspoken vocals sit patiently between a chilling and tranquil lead guitar.
DWNLD | http://weareglaciers.bandcamp.com/album/demos | Download includes two bonus Glacier tracks

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Breakdown*...Girls- 'Album' [2009] || 'Father, Son, Holy Ghost' [2011]

I've decided to change the name of this new category from "Review" to Breakdown

Album [2011]
Growing up in the Children of God cult, Girls singer Christopher Owens said he never had anything that could be called a childhood.  He hardly knew his father, his older sister fled the cult never to return and he watched his brother die due to the cult's lack of medical practice or use of technology offered through their atypical lifestyle.  "Imagine being raised in the Taliban," he once said in an interview.  Through their debut album, cleverly titled Album, Owens opens up these past wounds and wrenching memories and spills out those feelings and troubled memories in song.  By this description, one could infer a more melancholic tone throughout the album. But this is hardly the case. What he sings about and what it sounds like come as polar opposites.  Yes, he offers a slower more melancholic song or two, but this seems to be standard practice on rock albums these days.

Owens opens up the album on “Lust for Life” with a simple request- longing for love and continues on  asking for things I never think twice about having like “pizza and a bottle of wine.”  Simple joys that most people take for granted.  But Owens is in no position to do so. As sad and sorry as these words come through, no such sadness emerges through the sound.  Fit with his erratically squeaky voice, “Lust for Life” is not complete until you add upbeat guitar riffs, snare taps, and maracas.  The culmination of these sounds work to overpower the seemingly despondent lyrics and creates a song nothing less than an upbeat, top-tapping delight.  The same trick is done on the next song “Laura” where you will find yourself grooving along with the bendy guitars riffs in approval as his pleas for love ring out in the background.

The songs on Album largely contain lyrics of considerable sadness, grief and loss; this comes as no surprise given Owens tumultuous back-story.  But he cleverly disguises them behind the more joyous and upbeat tempo of Beach Boys-esque guitars and other groovy, eccentric sounds.  A simple formula sure, but no two songs sound the same on Album.   You go from scratchy, washed out guitar chords on a two minute song called “Big Bag” right over to “Hellhole Ratface,” where the surfer-guitar mantra pulls back in favor of slow acoustic melodies.  The maracas are exchanged for sleigh bells and Owens’s craven voice takes center stage in a more tepid sounding melody.  But halfway into the seven minute song, Owens brings back the familiar, strengthening the sincere tone of this song with two more electric guitars, an organ and a choir of hands clapping the song through its end in a soothing crescendo.  Readers can relate to many of the song's lyrics.  On "Hellhole Ratface," Owens shows his longing to live life to the fullest as he sings "I don't want to die without shaking up a leg or two..."  You may not find yourself dancing to this song, but you won't skip it either.

He does this and then has a song like “God Dammed” which takes a similar simple approach carrying nothing more than an acoustic, a set of bongos and the perfect every once-in-a-while tap of a percussion rattle.  Almost the same on paper, but it sounds much different.  No two songs really sound the same at all.  Owens commonly likes to emit his past pains and sadness through the lyrics of Album, but it’s hardly a plea for sympathy as the words tend to be overpowered by the energetic tones of guitars, and stabilizing precussion sounds in every which possible way.  Even so, the slower sounding songs end up evoking more appreciation for their sounds than any sort of sadness or empathy.  With such a variance in style, Girls will keep you guessing on every track of Album, ensuring a great listen from start to finish.



Saturday, May 12, 2012

Hear This...Free Stream of New Craft Spells-Gallery EP

+Unfortunately, the free stream of their Gallery EP has ended, but Craft Spells is still offering up their new song "Leave My Shadow" for a free download!


Here's a full free stream of the new EP from indie-pop rockers Craft Spells. Enjoy!



Thursday, May 10, 2012

Hear This..."The Nightwatchman - Black Spartacus Heart Attack Machine" Tom Morello

      FM plays music, AM doesn't, it's a simple as that or at least it was.  Over the years though we have seen some a handful of FM music stations fall under into the hands of those boring folk who favor dry discussions of the national debt and the upcoming election in favor of music.  Pressing issues, no doubt, but in this age of technology are there really enough people out there whose primary source of news comes from the radio that they need to expand beyond the realm of AM and destroy our music?  Besides when it comes to talk radio, NPR is king.  No AM station even comes close.
      So, the Man is taking away radio and has left its listerners hopeless.  If I were a crazy activist and wanted to declare a protest I would do so here.  (Acutally, I would probably spending most of my days occupying my local Walmart, but that's neither here nor there.)  Its much better to leave that stuff to music.  Politically-charged songs like "God Save the Queen" (1977) and "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (1983) came through hard in their time and had a purpose that has since then not been forgotten.  But nowadays a song about overthrowing "a fascist British monarchy" doesn't readily apply anymore.  (Besides, it seems like everyone loves Will and Kate.)  Thankfully, we look to artists like Rage Against the Machine for keeping that leftist corporate hatred faith alive in such songs as "Killing in the Name" and "Testify."   Powerful stuff, in fact Rage Against the Machine is the only band to have every one of their songs placed on 2001 Clear Channel Memorandum and thus demmed "lyrically questionable."  
      And how ironic it would be if I were to say that I came across this song particular song on AM radio.  It is true.  Before tuning my old-school radio back to FM from yesterday's baseball game, I caught the very end of the discussion about a song "Black Spartacus Hard Attack Machine" by an artist called The Nightwatchman.  This guy happens to be the solo project of Rage's spectacularly multi-talented guitarist Tom Morello.  Harmonica and all, I would have never put two and two together, but its more linked with what he says than how it sounds.  Sure its filled with overt political criticism, but Morello manages to hide this well behind a pleasant harmonica and back choir that make this song so nice to hear.  Whether I agree with his words or not is besides the point because behind these lyrics, "Black Spartacus Hard Attack Machine" just sounds cool.  Now go rebel!

                      

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Useless Clatter..."Slow Jam News" Jimmy Fallon feat. Barack Obama

      I almost didn't post this because in my head I wasn't sure if I considered this music.  Up there with the Black Keys and Beach House, I thought this video wouldn't fit well with the original reasons I started a blog on in the first place.  I was also telling myself that posting this video would be partaking in the on-going interet war on politics.  And the last thing I want to be is political.  But what the heck, this is hilarious. Besides, if I really wanted to I could just go ahead and tag this as The Roots.  And this was too good to pass up.  
      On his show "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," Fallon hosts a recurring segment called "Slow Jam The News" in which he delivers the week's tops stories to the back beat of hip hop artists The Roots.  Its gotta nice little groove to it and yesterday President Obama payed the NBC studios a visit and did the song with Fallon and the Roots live on Late Night.  The President used his time in the song to talk about his promise to keep students loans down after recent news has resurfaced surrounding the oncoming July 1 expiration date of Stafford Loans, the country's largest federal student lending program.  This would result in an increase in student loan prices, up to a $1,000s more.
      Whether you like him or not, you have to admit he  delivered it here along with The Roots and their groovy rendition of "Hail to the Chief."  Those guys can really break it down.  Despite the humorous intention of the skit, the President was still touching on some very serious issues.  He  hardly cracking a smile at Fallon's remarks, "Preezy of the United Steezy" and "the Barackness Monster." He is pretty cool.
      "Lets keep the rates down on college loans," spelled out in a slow jam by President Obama himself.  I'm with you on that Mr. President.  [I didn't want to mention his squeak at the end, but its there: 4:28]

                       

Friday, April 6, 2012

Free Music Fridays... #1

      New category alert! Yes we got something new at TUNEclatter and it's exactly what it advertises- selections of perfectly free and legal music, ready to be downloaded right here.  Each week I will scour the endless facades of the internet for any available and legal downloads of my liking.  Most free songs on the web come from emerging artists who are kind enough to offer up their songs in return for the free publicity.  The descriptions will be brief and the reception is for you to decide.  If you like it take it, if not carry on.  Besides, what's the point of finding free music if there's no one to share it with?
   + I will try and make this a regular post on TUNEclatter on Friday of each week. [We'll see how long that lasts.] At least we got one!

===============================================================================================

1. "Not Title (Molly)" John Maus
A groovy, techno-y pop song with a splendid '80s vibe to it.  Like a hyped-up Joy Division track.
http://www.1forthepeople.com/2012/03/new-track-john-maus-no-title-molly.html#more |

2. "Time" Athletes
Another Joy Divison-esque song with a more genuinely nostalgic feel to it. A little slower, no techno.
http://athletes.bandcamp.com/track/time |

3. "The Only Place" Best Coast
The title track from the upcoming album due May 15.  A perfect hippity, So-Cal theme song to kick start the oncoming summer months so desperately in our sights.
http://soundcloud.com/wichita-recordings/best-coast-the-only-place |

4. "Gossip" Starlight Girls
With the high pitch organ screams this spooky pop song sounds like it should have been released closer to Halloween.  But all the better that its here right now. [You can actually download their full self-titled EP all for free!]
http://www.1forthepeople.com/2012/03/album-download-starlight-girls.html#more |

5. "Tomorrow" Parakeet
A side project from the female bassist of Yuck, "Tomorrow" is a riff-driven, hard-hitting rock song with a warm heart coming in the form of Mariko Doi's congenial voice.
http://parakeetmusic.bandcamp.com |

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Hear This..."Hooray For Tuesday" The Mantles

      To anyone who did not already know, Tuesday has been scientifically proven to be the worst day of the week. [SOURCE]  That's especially bad news for those of you who thought the worst was over when Monday ended.  Well according to science, its not; and everyone knows you can't argue with science.  But like every other week, we will prevail, but not without the help from such courageous pizza corporations like Pizza Hut and Dominos offering us reasons to look forward to the dreaded day.  [Pizza Hut has two Tuesday specials actually, here's the second.]  College basketball keeps fans distracted during the season with games every week on recurring 'Super Tuesdays.'  And then of course, there's the real Super Tuesday- that one political thing with all the primary presidential elections that most young people completely forgot to tune in to.  Because unlike the Dominos deal, that's only once every four years.
So to keep up with the recent attempts to resurrecting Tuesdays, I'm reaching all the way back to 1998 to share with you the unofficial celebratory anthem of Tuesday by the Denver-based band The Minders.
      "Hooray For Tuesday" is a proclamation of praise for everyone's most hated weekday.  Sure anyone can make a song about how great Friday is (anyone...), but it takes a little more skill to excite people about a Tuesday.  They do a convincing job on it too.  The confident opening horns and drum sequence give me a sense of hope that what they are telling me is true by law.  And what they say is exactly what everyone wants to do on a Tuesday- leave the mundane monotony of their cubicles (especially these people).  The weekend is an eternity away and who wouldn't mind waiting it out in the unadorned paradise they sing of.
      But then again, if you're not going away and you're not about to sit down and watch a college basketball game with the Tuesday pizza deal of your choice, then what do you have to hooray about?  We're probably all in the same boat at this time of the year, punching it out on this very average Tuesday.  So take a moment and share the splendor of Tuesdays, if its only for a few minutes.


Monday, April 2, 2012

Useless Clatter...New Category For '"Review"'

In my experience, when an artist of my liking comes out with a new album I always seek it out, regardless of what critics say.  Whether Pitchfork or Rolling Stone give it a 9 or a 3 doesn’t matter because in most cases, my previous attachment to the band gives me reason to accepting the new material regardless of public opinion. 
      That being said, I am introducing a new category on TUNEclatter titled “Review.”  It’s important that the word contain those quotations because as I previously stated, I don’t stand by reviews of music as much as I do for movies.  What I will begin to attempt with this new category is not to give the album a rating as much as I would like to comment on the new material in terms of its sound comparison with the artist’s previously released album. 
      On my other blog, FILMclatter, I have a category titled ‘Why See This’ in which I state the reasons why I believe a particular movie is worth seeing.  In other words, I would rather just promote the movies and music I love as opposed to giving a mark of criticism to everything I can.  There are plenty of people out there doing the same thing, so I see any effort of my own to be rather trivial. 
      Above all though, I have always found myself interested in looking at the particular change in style a band encompasses over the years and therefore feel that comparing albums in that matter is a much more noteworthy thing for me to write about as opposed to shelling out the 100th review of an album months after its release. 


+ The first albums that will be “reviewed” then will be from the San Francisco indie band, Girls. Their two albums being Father, Son, Holy Ghost from last September and their debut feature, Album, from 2010.


Friday, March 30, 2012

Audiovisuals...Father John Misty- "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"

      From what I've gathered, I would say that you can pretty much classify music videos into three categories-
1. Videos that consist of random shots of the artist/band preforming the song interlaced with more random shots of the artist [or in the case of a band, the lead singer] walking around aimlessly in an attempt to make some story. [ex.] [worse example]
2. Videos that take on a narrative form, in which the sequence of shots makes up a short story, almost like a short film. This video eliminates the useless shots of the artist/band preforming/singing the song [ex.] [ex.]
3. Other- The very general fall back category for the videos that do neither of the first two categories. [ex.]

     This particular video for the recent single of Father John Misty, the now former drummer of the Fleet Foxes, probably falls across my second and third categories.  
     "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" is the title and like the recent movies, Martha Marcy May Marlene and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, the title pulls together four words that could easily be rearranged and no one would even figure.  'Hollywood Cemetery Forever Sings' would make more sense to me, but whatever.
     And that is exactly what this video feels like.  Seriously, it has more settings than many full length movies.  There's the road, the hipster funeral, the hipster party, and the forest, which then turns into a some sort of dreamy nightmarish sequence of the girl fighting some mysterious woman and everything's painted red. And then she wakes up back on the road where it all started.
     Like the lyrics, the video follows a young girl mourning the death of her grandfather.  But the video looks too complex to be just that.  Also, it seems too perfect that the girl of the video is played by the same actress who plays April Ludgate, the emo girl from Parks & Recreation (Aubrey Plaza).
     While I really love the song, I am not sure I can say the same about the video.  Without a doubt, its one of the best directed videos I've seen in a while.  But at the same time, its one of those hipster projects that maybe I'm not hipster enough to instantly embrace as masterful art.  I will say though I enjoy watching it and its definitely worth a click.  After watching the video a handful of times, on every view, something new managed to slip its way into the video that I had not seen before.  Its like the Black Swan of music videos.  (48 Hidden Images in Black Swan)

+ If you like "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings," a couple other Father John Misty songs are up on Grooveshark- and if you're a fan of the Fleet Foxes than his stuff should suit you too | tny.gs/GY59hj |

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Useless Clatter...2012 Album Releases [Apr+May]


      Now that March is coming to an end, I see that my most anticipated albums of 2012 post- (Jan-Feb-Mar) is becoming a bit useless.  So I’ve finally found some time to browse about the web aimlessly and put together Part II of the list which includes April and May.  Despite only being two months, it’s packed very tightly with plenty of new releases from some of my favorites like Best Coast, The Dandy Warhols, and The Brain Jonestown Massacre [and that’s not even counting the Willow Smith album out on April 3rd]  I've also seen the convenient release from bands I have recently discovered like Alabama Shakes and Father John Misty, who I literally discovered this morning.  
      I couldn’t find many for June at this point [plenty of rumors] but figured I would wait a bit and post that later.  Of course, if I missed anyone important or you feel generous enough to send a complimentary recommendation my way feel free.
+ Album artwork and preview tracks/singles will be updated when the info arrives.

April 3
Of Monsters & Men- My Head is an Animal
 


April 10
Alabama Shakes- Boys & Girls
 

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Hear This..."Myth" by Beach House

      Since their third album, Teen Dream, from 2010, Baltimore duo Beach House have remained relatively quiet.  When the music site Consequence of Sound released news of an upcoming album from them in February, the post was mysteriously deleted.  Thankfully, the news has officially resurfaced and confirmed as truth.  Beach House does in fact have a new album in the works titled Bloom and its set to be released May 7th.  With that comes the release of the album's first single, "Myth."
      While never really indulging too far into the likes of dreamy, transcendent pop music, I've taken a liking to Beach House.  Ever since hearing their song in the trailer for that weird looking film, The Future, I have since considered myself a fan.
      The new song is mot much of a change from the band's trademark sound, but that's no bit of criticism on my part.  "Myth" is an especially cool track.  Its constant synth back-beat mixed with Victoria Legrand's voice gives the song a peaceful tone.  For a few seconds at the refrain when the guitar kicks in with one simple strut, everything becomes amplified and doubly intense, serene, mesmerizing-however you want to call it.  The song can really hypnotize you if you are not careful.
      In short and to take from its lyrics, "Myth" is a"momentary bliss" of sound and with it, we can expect more good things from these two come May 7th.   




      

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Useless Clatter...[Hear This] Brian Jonestown Massacre Announce New Album + Latest Single "Blue Order New Monday"

      I wouldn't be going out on a limb in saying that The Brian Jonestown Massacre could be the most diverse band out there right now.  But whether that's because of the numerous genres they've tapped into throughout the years or just due to the immense line up changes that have come their way, The Brian Jonestown Massacre are truly in a class of their own.  Those of you who've seen DiG! know what I'm talking about. But to base the band's reputation solely on the hot headed temper of band leader Anton Newcombe is a bit one sided.  Maybe he is a little wacky, but the stuff he and his band-mates put together in the studio completely makes up for it.
      On that note, I am thrilled to report the news of a new BJM album to be released May 7th called Aufheben.  As of late, Anton's made his home in Berlin so its not completely bizarre to see the German word appears as the album's title.  And thanks to the possibilities of web translation, I've tracked down the meaning of the word which now leads to an assortment of interpretations on why he chose that word.  Aufheben (pronounced auf+he•ben) is a verb lending itself to a variety of actions- 'to pick up, to abolish, to lift, to reverse, to capture to preserve' to name a few.  Anton could have had any number of these in mind when choosing the word and unfortunately I don't think we'll ever  know what he truly intended.  But that's alright because the greater concern, as it always is with a new BJM album, is what the stuff will sound like.  Thankfully we won't have to wait until May because with this news came the release of the first single from Aufheben titled "Blue Order/New Monday." 

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Useless Clatter...Best Coast Unveils Artwork For Upcoming Album

      Bethany Cosentino takes everything us non-Californians crave during these cold winter months and shoves it in our faces.  You and I both know we would too if we lived in sunshine all year round.  But we don't.    We see snow.  Seriously, I feel like the only time I ever see those "Visit California" commercials on TV is during the dead of winter.  Sometimes they really are tough to watch. And I have to admit when Best Coast shuffles its way into my ear-buds during these cold months I have to press next because I know that when I walk out the door I won't be wearing sandals, holding a surfboard on my way to the beach.
      But despite the envy and seasonal ignoring I embark on every winter with Best Coast, that can all end soon enough.  And I really shouldn't be complaining because this has been one of the warmest winters on record but, nonetheless when I wake up, I'm not in California.  And its perfect timing for Bethany and company to release the some news about their forthcoming sophomore album titled "The Only Place" [I wonder what that's a reference too...]  The album comes out May 14th and recently Bethany has been so kind as to release the album's and art work.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Audiovisuals...Arctic Monkey's "Fluorescent Adolescent"

One of the best aspects of music is its ability to mesh the most unlikely disparities into one very pleasing tune.  Think about the new Jack White song, “Love Interruption.”  He sings longing for love, but that request comes the most an array of unromantic desires- “I want love to roll me over slowly stick a knife inside me, and twist it all around...” to name one.   Another example goes by the name “Pumped Up Kicks,” the popular Foster the People song.  [Check out those lyrics.]  These two songs share the perverse ability to turn such shocking statements into a something far from unfavorable. 
That isn't the exact case of the Arctic Monkey's song "Fluorescent Adolescent."  No, its lyrics doesn't demand any such ill mannered requests; here it’s the visuals that are called to questioning.  The music video for "Fluorescent Adolescent" involves a man and his posse dressed up as clowns trying to bash the brains of a rival group.  Other than the unfortunate association these characters have with serial killers and messed up B-horror films, clowns used to be seen as symbols of impeccable joy and childlike entertainment.  Bu these clowns share none of these qualities. 
When I first watched this, I immediately called to mind a comparison with a scene from Stanley Kubrick’s 1971film adaptation of “AClockwork Orange”- you have a bunch of weirdoes dressed up in outlandish clothing trying to kill each other.  But unlike the mindless chaos brought forth by Alex in “Clockwork,” our clown here seems to acknowledge his wrongdoings.  Working in stride with Turner’s lyrics- “Where did you go?” the clown puts down his fists for a moment to think.  He looks back and remembers what he was once-a sweet-hearted and innocent young boy, now grown up and dressed up as a clown mindlessly whacking people’s brains out.  “The best you ever had is just a memory...”  Something he realizes a bit too late.

                                  

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Hear This [Audiovisuals]...Arctic Moneys- "R U Mine?"

      Why can't everyone be as cool as the Arctic Monkeys? Once again, my favourite British  band have done it again producing yet another uber-cool song to rock out to.  "R U Mine?" is the band's latest work, but from what I've heard, its not an early release of any upcoming LP nor is it a b-side from their latest album, Suck It and See.  They just felt like releasing another song, and we can all be thankful for that.
      "R U Mine?" stuck me as an interesting title choice for a band who has made their name on being the bad boys of rock 'n rolls.  I thought for a second the Arctic Monkey's dropped off the deep end and teamed up with Ke$ha for a sequel single to "We R Who We R."  Thankfully I was wrong.
      "R U Mine?" comes as no shock for Arctic Monkey fans as the song reaches back to the traditional heavy rock sound the band veered away from on their last album Suck It and See.  It's a surly combination of heavy guitar chords and drums that we all came to love in the Arctic Monkeys.  As always, Turner's dyamic vocals sit above all the noise pushing the song forward. 
      Sure I would prefer "Are You Mine?" over the abbreviated title, but that just goes to show you how the Arctic Monkeys can make anything cool.  Don't believe me? They prove it to us by pulling off one of the most misused and abused fashion statements with ease- sunglasses at night [while driving].

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Hear This...Beach Fossils- "Shallow" | "Lessons"

      "Lo-fi" rock always seems at risk of steering into certain criticism.  I used to think that lo-fi  and garage bands sounded the way they did  because they could't find an adequate singer.  To hide this, they go ahead and scratch out the vocals.  In no way is that true, but its something I've always thought of. What's the point of distorting the vocals like that? I'm not going to criticize Sealings here but a song like "Rails Means Rails" kind of led me to that assumption early on.  But when I try to imagine "Rails Means Rails" without the scratchy, lo-fi voice blaring into the microphone, it just doesn't sound right.
      But I've taken a new stance on the idea of lo-fi though the more and more I acquaint myself with it.  This band, Beach Fossils, have steered me the right way.  "Shallow" and "Lessons" are the band's latest release since their What A Pleasure EP came out last May.  Commonly associated with lo-fi is the term "fuzzy" , there's actually nothing really "fuzzy" about these songs.  Both songs achieve a very clean sound in which every guitar stroke and drum tap are heard individually, all coming together in a very ornate manner.  "Lessons" and "Shallow" both possess some of the smoothest and uncomplicated guitar solos I've ever heard, and it works immensely with the mesmerizing sound of lead singer, Dustin Payseur's voice.  They do not try to do anything too fancy, [I could probably score these songs in Rockband pretty easy], but that's the beauty of their sound.  Beach Fossils don't strive for any sort of technical rock n' roll mastery and as a result, they standout in the midst of a vague and poorly defined genre such as "lo-fi."



Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Hear This...Bass Drum of Death "I Dunno"

      Without hearing any of their music, a band with the name Bass Drum of Death would quite easily render an assumption that they are of the black metal, death rock type.   By the name, comparisons to bands like DeathNapalm Death, or my personal favorite, Dying Fetus, come easy and lead to a common misnomer about this this terrific band.
      Started by one kid in a basement in Oxford Mississippi, Bass Drum of Death began as a solo project of John Barrett’s as he juggles the singing, guitar playing and bass drumming all on his own.  But very quickly, John Barrett’s left foot was replaced by drummer Colin Sneed tagging them as a full-fledged rock band.  The duo released their debut LP, GB City last April and has since then toured the U.S. as well as Great Britain and Australia.  Far from anything like Dying Fetus, Bass Drum of Death has found success through simple garage rock noises like drums, fuzzy guitar riffs and even fuzzier lo-fi vocals. 
      “I Dunno” is the first song from Bass Drum of Death since GB City.  Along with its release last October, John Barrett gave it the following introduction- "hope you guys enjoy…this is just a rough mix and unmastered, so you may hafta crank it.”  In my opinion, John Barrett couldn’t have hit it more spot on.  “I Dunno,” like the rest of their songs is short and sweet.  Sometimes, Barrett awards himself with a quick little solo in his songs to show off his guitar mastery but finds no use for it here.  Instead, the spotlight falls upon Sneed’s drumming.  It’s nothing to awe at, but in no time, you will find yourself tapping along.  Simplicity is the key here.
      Other than bands like The White Stripes and The Black Keys, it seems like most artists have moved in the opposite direction as they look for new and more technical ways to approach music.  Being the first to do anything is usually cool.  Bass Drum of Death doesn’t care about that instead falling back on the simplistic approach to rock ‘n roll.  And with the recent success and international touring they have begun, why do anything different?

Friday, February 3, 2012

Hear This...Jack White's First Solo Single "Love Interruption"

      Jack White may have founded more rock bands than the entire state of North Dakota has ever turned out.  He quickly achieved worldwide success with his brother-sister duo, TheWhite Stripes, in the late 90s and at the peak of their popularity, White decided to start two more groups, The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs.  And before the recent breakup of The White Stripes, he was juggling all three bands at once.
      To say that Jack White started a fourth band would not be a surprise to anybody, but actually, his latest project has him going solo.  White’s first solo album, Blunderbuss, is to be released on April 24 of this year and in preparation he released his first single “Love Interruption.”
     White, who made himself famous through the distinct, stripped down rock ‘n roll style of The White Stripes, is taking a different approach with his new stuff.  “Love Interruption” sounds much different than the fast-paced, symbol crashing noise of The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs.  It’s a pretty placid sounding song, but because it’s Jack White, he finds a way to ask love to “roll me over slowly, stick a knife inside me and twist it all around.”

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Hear This..."Chinatown" Destroyer

File:2011Kaputt.jpg      For me, the word Chinatown can only bring to mind the 1974 Roman Polanski film of the same name.  It's an excellent movie but very dark and unsettling.  The word only brings to mind images of the film's notorious ending and final words whose utterance can leave shivers down your spine.  I liked the movie, but its one that can keep you up all night thinking about it.
      Thankfully the Canadian indie pop band, Destroyer, gave me a new meaning to the word with the release of their song "Chinatown" off their 2011 album Kaputt.  In comparison, the song is much more relaxed than the film.  Its a hybrid song thats background of indie pop is mixed with elements of chill-wave and jazz.  Unlike most indie songs, "Chinatown" complete's itself with a casual  brass solo.  Vocals are shared by front man  Dan Bejar and female singer Sibel Thrasher who comes in singing the phrase "I can't walk away at all."
      Maybe its a clever reference to Polanski's film.  I don't want to spoil the ending to any of those who haven't seen it, but Chinatown ends with Jack Nicholson's character, Detective J.J. Gittes, reluctantly being escorted away from the crime scene.  "Forget it Jake, its Chinatown."  Thankfully for music fans, Destroyer has made a song that's so pleasing, it simply can't be forgotten.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Useless Clatter..."Lonely Boy" vs. "Gold On The Ceiling"

      For all that really mattered, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney could have named their band "The Black Sheep."  Besides being relatively close to their actual name, The Black Keys, the band has always seemed to be the weird sibling in the family of modern rock 'n roll.  Not distinctly alternative rock that's heard on the radio or what used to be the antithesis of radio rock, indie rock- no The Black Keys are more intractable than that.  Along with Jack White's White Stripes, The Black Keys emerged as one of the top outputs of the 90s generation.  Their music was of the simpler sound, bent on catchy riffs and basic drum taps, echoing the early days of blues rock.  Both seemed to get by on the bare bones of rock 'n roll.
      And with the recent break up of The White Stripes, and Jack White constantly managing a handful of other projects, The Black Keys appear to be the front runner of this modern off-beat rock, until recently.   The Black Keys remained primarily under the radar through their first five albums but found recent mainstream success in 2010's Brothers and their latest album El Camino which recently held the #2 spot on the Billboard 200.  While The Black Key's made their name on raw blues-like rhythms, their latest efforts, especially El Camino, seem to be merging their old selves with styles reminiscent of  some of today's pop music.
      The two songs I had in mind were actually the album's two singles"Lonely Boy" and "Gold on the Ceiling," and I can see why they were selected. If pop artists like Lady Gaga can have successful, catchy songs, why can't rock bands have the same?These two songs are faster, more up beat tracks that have you tapping your foot along in rhythm before you realize it.  To add, the lyrics seem more frequent and casual where singing along is encouraged and with that going you have a hit.  In this case, The Black Keys have two, those of which I can't decide which I like better.  Which do you prefer?


"Lonely Boy"- A Black Keys album has never started off sounding like this.  For El Camino  "Lonely Boy" replaces the drawn out, woeful sounding riffs in exchange for a flashy, confident set of notes that seem only appropriate to dance to.  Melodic chants and catchy yet simple refrains made this song an instant radio hit and setting the bar high for the album's remaining tracks.


"Gold on the Ceiling"- "Lonely Boy" really met its match with this song.  Dan and Pat revert back to their traditional garage rock sounds with a little bit of flair. Synthesized guitars lead the way while an organ chimes out subtly behinds its chorus.  Just like "Lonely Boy," this song's distinct and powerful refrain has a sing-a-long feel to it that'll have your approval in no time.