The International Tweexcore Underground

(At about nine different points during the latest holiday season, this was meant to be multiple entries, brought to you in a timely and respectful fashion. Oh well. It's all late news now, but here are some great relatively new songs regardless.)

To quote "Omahype, NE": "The most interesting thing about this single release (by Los Campesinos) is actually the b-sides. The song 'The International Tweexcore Underground' is basically a song about two friends, one is a "twee" fan and one is a punk fan. The b-sides are then a Heavenly/Calvin Johnson cover ('C Is The Heavenly Option') and a Black Flag song ('Police Story')."

Well, I disagree that "the most interesting thing about this single release is actually the b-sides". That's bull. The b-sides are cool covers, but the a-side is the real gem. These lyrics are awesome.

Getting the laptop fixed by a professional doesn't make me a pawn
and stamping harder on your FX pedal, won't make you feel any better any more
oh you said "we've gotta bite the hand that feeds" but i was sucking seductively on the fingertips of a civil servant
said "how you gonna bring the state down when you're propping it up, with daytime radio and skimmed milk and soppy bows just 'cause you're scared to be alone"
and i never cared about Ian MacKaye
Calvin Johnson never meant anything to me
but the International Tweexcore Underground, will save us all

Beautifully tongue-in-cheek. Check out the video here. This song is perfect. Along with the Shout Out Louds (see below), this is the kind of song that inspires meaningless and yet totally entertaining music geek conversations within me. (Besides, the bridge lyrics are copped from BOTH "Police Story" and "My War" by Black Flag. Yeah, I was a wannabe punk.)

Los Campesinos - "The International Tweexcore Underground".

I'm sure about four million bands have used the name "The Virgins" before, but this NYC unit takes the early-century Strokes template and drops one of those beautifully meandering tunes on us. Reminds me of the (sigh) Longpigs (R.I.P.).

The Virgins - "Fernando Pando".

Next up is the former Test Icicles frontman gone all singer-songwriter under the Lightspeed Champion moniker. It'll probably end up on your favorite TV show soon, so enjoy it now. Great moments in these songs.

Lightspeed Champion - "Waiting Game".
Lightspeed Champion - "Galaxy Of The Lost".

Plus plus plus...

The Black Kids - "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You". If nothing else, song name of the year. Fortunately the tune cracks a bit too and the EP is called "The Wizard of Ahhhs".

Pete And The Pirates - "Knots". Great indiepop riff and tune.

Pants Yell! - "Magenta And Green". Probably the only really "twee" band that I can consistently handle. Dudes can write songs. "Here comes the part where I open my heart and no one wants to hear about it". I love the wry, melancholic delivery.

The Octopus Project - "Truck". Great little "twee"-ish instrumental track.

The Shout Out Louds - "Impossible". I could write pages (I'll spare you) about how this Swedish unit is the best modern version of the C86 legacy (the guitar player even looks like Stephen Pastel buried in an old Field Mice rhythm section). Saw them live in Austin a few weeks back and they were amazing (even the unindoctrinated wife grooved hard). Pick up their latest CD. Great.