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]

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.