A Certain Romance

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2010-06-28T12:25:00.003-05:00

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Magic Man - "South Dakota"

2010-02-01T10:13:00.002-06:00

I love it when I don't even remember downloading something and then I end up loving it days later. This tune has owned my weekend in a very good way. It sounds like early Mum slowly churning through a Postal Service tune. Class. And, the entire album is available for free download at Magic Man's bandcamp site here. Enjoy.

Magic Man - "South Dakota" from "Real Life Color".

Lulu & The Lampshades - "You're Gonna Miss Me"

2010-01-27T11:39:00.005-06:00

I love this song and wish I could find an MP3 version. Until then, this is a frequent video play for me. Lulu & The Lampshades doing "You're Gonna Miss Me (aka Cups)" via Bandstand Busking. Brilliant. Enjoy.

PS - "Ask and you shall receive", I suppose. After bemoaning my not having an MP3 of this tune, I was granted one via a comment. Thank you very much. Enjoy.

Lulu & The Lampshades - "You're Gonna Miss Me" (aka "Cups) (Live).

Goldhawks - "1996"

2010-01-21T12:51:00.005-06:00

Britain's Goldhawks come pounding straight into this one and never relent. I love the bounce of the rhythm and the verse/chorus dynamics (guitars dropping out and then returning something fierce), all of which merely support an insanely catchy rock melody. This song is blistering and ambitious, which I love. No attempt to undersell or back away from what is truly a huge tune. I have no idea who produced this, but it sounds incredible. Enjoy.

Goldhawks - "1996".

Everything Everything - "My Keys, Your Boyfriend"

2010-01-21T12:35:00.009-06:00

"Cause he was looking at me like WOAH!"

Alright. As far as I'm concerned, this song is pure genius. If the incessant little stabbing melodies and harmonies don't get you, how does that persistent verse keyboard riff not? If the lyrics don't entirely make sense at first, how can you not love a song reportedly about "what it would be like to try and have any kind of normal relationship if your country was being bombed constantly by an occupying nation, from the point of view of a self-obsessed, post-traumatic, stress-disordered Lothario"? And it's all set to a mess of class 80s hooks. Look out for these guys. This is some talent. Enjoy.

Everything Everything - "My Keys, Your Boyfriend".

The Soft Pack - "C'mon"

2009-12-15T11:32:00.008-06:00

Is it just me or do these guys just keep getting better? Great new tunes.

The Soft Pack - "C'mon".

The Soft Pack - "Answer to Yourself".

Surfer Blood - "Fast Jabroni"

2009-11-23T15:23:00.006-06:00

"Someone broke into my heart..."

Surfer Blood - "Fast Jabroni".

A Century Removed: Bow Wow Wow - "Fools Rush In"

2009-11-16T17:06:00.007-06:00

"Fools rush in where wise men never go
But wise men never fall in love
So how are they to know?"

Bow Wow Wow - "Fools Rush In" (from Your Cassette Pet, 1980).

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 16

2009-10-24T22:09:00.007-05:00

Thirteen tunes that have entertained my ears over the past few months. Burn it to a CD and play it loud in your car. Enjoy.

01 - Frightened Rabbit - "Swim Until You Can't See Land".
02 - Pet Lions - "Propeller Plane".
03 - Turbo Fruits - "On The Road".
04 - Jose Vanders - "Puppets".
05 - Mr. Little Jeans - "Angel (RAC Mix)".
06 - Johnny Foreigner - "Criminals".
07 - Frankie Rose - "Thee Only One".
08 - Faces On Film - "Indicator Indicator".
09 - The Rifles - "The Great Escape".
10 - The XX - "Basic Space".
11 - Doug Burr - "Slow Southern Home".
12 - Danny Malone - "Sailing".
13 - Jonsi & Alex - "Boy 1904".

Good at Songs, Bad at Fidelity: Lo-Fi.

2009-10-20T21:45:00.009-05:00

If you follow new music at all, you've surely run into the trendy "lo-fi" movement by now. Now, if you are old like me, you will remember the "lo-fi" movement of the early 1990's courtesy of bands like Sebadoh and their four-track recorders. Well, the old trusty four tracks have been upgraded to GarageBand and the like.

As with most genres, there's a ton of copy-cat junk out there now, but there are always some gems as well. As the Internet Forever tag line goes - "Good at Songs, Bad at Fidelity" - these are great catchy tunes buried in intentionally minimalist production values (hence, "lo-fi"). And, for the most part they come off like a fun new party.

01 - Big Troubles - "Freudian Slips". This one definitely leans to the "indiepop" side of things (check that Pains of Being Pure at Heart influence) with a great bounce and guitar hook.
02 - Fluffy Lumbers - "Cruisers". I love the chug of the rhythmn here.
03 - Beach Fossils - "Daydream". A sinister guitar riff buried in reverb and muck.
04 - The Babies - "Meet Me In The City". Upbeat glory to get the party going.
05 - Gentle Friendly - "Clean Breaker". I'm cheating with this one as it's honestly not terribly "lo-fi", but the aesthetic isn't really that far off. Love it.
06 - George Washington Brown - "End Of The ...". Reminds me of my old loves Boyracer. Great tune.
07 - That Ghost - "Never Have Fun". Slacker rock is back. This is like Wavves without a distortion box.
08 - Internet Forever - "Cover The Walls". This trio make Casiotone For The Painfully Alone sound downright overproduced. Harmonies and hooks galore. Check out the entire catalog.

Surfer Blood - "Catholic Pagans"

2009-10-09T17:17:00.008-05:00

"When I met you, I broke the mold.
I fell apart and combed my hair."

Surfer Blood - "Catholic Pagans".

Titus Andronicus - My Time Outside The Womb

2009-10-01T16:32:00.009-05:00

"I learned to play the guitar in the seventh grade in order to convince everyone I was a renegade.
I couldn't fool anyone.
I couldn't even fool myself.
I was just another book on the shelf."

Titus Andronicus - "My Time Outside The Womb". Buy here.

Danny Malone - Cuddlebug

2009-09-28T17:06:00.002-05:00

"Did you know I whispered something low to you that morning, but you were half-asleep?"

I finally found my way down to Waterloo Records on Saturday (with two kids in tow) and picked up Danny Malone's "Cuddlebug". I've been waiting for this one forever and I'm not disappointed. As I've said too many times before, I think this guy is a rare talent and a great songwriter.

My favorite song has to be "Song for the Year", the video of which I've watched/listened to about a 100 times already. Here's the CD-version of the tune. Go buy it.

Danny Malone - "Song for the Year". Buy here.
Danny Malone - "Lightning Bolt". Buy here.

Twitter

2009-09-28T14:31:00.003-05:00

For more frequent musical tips, follow me on twitter: @acrblog. See you there.

Elephant Parade

2009-09-23T14:43:00.005-05:00

I just recently found out about Elephant Parade, the new project by Estelle from The Brittle Stars (arguably the best band to ever record for Shelflife Records). The band have a new album coming out soon, but this tune is an utter classic that belongs in a movie soundtrack. Enjoy.

Elephant Parade - "For You".
Brittle Stars - "This Trip".

Generationals

2009-09-23T14:39:00.003-05:00

"And when they fight, they fight
And when they come home at night they say
"I love you, baby".

Generationals - "When They Fight They Fight".

Peggy Sue - Lover Gone

2009-09-16T15:04:00.006-05:00

Without pretense, without purpose, without drink, without remorse
I gave to you four years out of my twenty-four
I couldn't bring myself to give you more...

Peggy Sue - "Lover Gone" (on Yep Roc).

The Rural Alberta Advantage

2009-09-04T16:08:00.005-05:00

"And we will burn our eyes, seeking out these purple nights..."

There was an old Sarah Records single insert that loosely described their selection process as a record label by stating that the chosen bands' demos typically (paraphrased from memory here) "had all the wrong notes and all the right everything elses". That's pretty much the perfect way to describe all those bands you know aren't perfect musicians but still embody that perfect ramshackle charm that matters so much more.

So it is with The Rural Alberta Advantage. The voices veer noticeably off at times, but their spirits are never lost. I've listened to these two songs all summer and I'm starting to defy the law of diminishing returns. I can't stop feeling it. Go Canada.

"And once in awhile I know our hearts beat out of time.
And once in awhile I know they'll fall back in line..."

The Rural Alberta Advantage - "Edmonton".
The Rural Alberta Advantage - "In The Summertime".

8tracks.com

2009-07-31T16:54:00.003-05:00

No posts recently as we've been away on an extended summer vacation (with me working 2/3 of the time). In may absence, here are two mixes that I put together for the new 8tracks.com service (very much like the old muxtape). Enjoy.

Drones & Slow Builds

2009-07-09T00:01:00.005-05:00

Drones and slow builds have always been my surrogate drugs and I've never needed/wanted the real stuff. As such, this week I've been obsessed with "Happy Banjo", an odd mixture of Americana/drone by Dark Mean from Ontario Canada and a sayCet remix of Pony Pony Run Run's otherwise fairly poppy "Hey You". sayCet hail from France but put a decidedly Icelandic (think Mum and Sigur Ros) twist on this remix. Enjoy.

Dark Mean - "Happy Banjo" (Free download EP here).
Pony Pony Run Run - "Hey You (sayCet Remix)".

I've Always Liked The Sad Songs...

2009-06-30T23:49:00.007-05:00

It really doesn't matter how I'm feeling, I love me a good sad song. Life can be as chipper as possible (and in most ways it has been lately) and still I'm a glutton for some melodic misery. I've been questioned about it a million times and my only great explanation is that it's definitely the emotional vicarious thrill and not the therapy that most people suppose it to be. There's just nothing like that wash of bummedness drifting over you. On that note, here are some of my recent faves; they aren't thoroughly bummed, but they deliver nonetheless. Enjoy.

Right Away, Great Captain - "Down To Your Soul".
Right Away, Great Captain - "Memories From A Shore (Anna No)".
Royal City - "I Called But You Were Sleeping".
Saxon Shore - "Nothing Changes".

The Boss (Covered & Covering)

2009-06-17T23:35:00.011-05:00

Knowing that my 18-year old self would be reeling in horror right about now, I press on with a blog post about Bruce Springsteen. A few days back I heard yet another version of his classic "Tougher Than The Rest" (courtesy of Camera Obscura this time) and was reminded what an incredible songwriter he can occasionally be (if you have not heard "Nebraska", stop everything and go purchase it right now; seriously). I've loved this song ever since the Everything But The Girl cover back in 1992 and though Camera Obscura's version doesn't stray much from that one, there's a refreshingness to it all the same.

All of this mainly just reminded me that I really needed to post Springsteen's version of Suicide's classic "Dream Baby Dream". Bruce's version tops the original by a mile and shows an almost shoegazey side of Bruce that I would have never suspected. This 2005 live version was released recently as part of the 10" vinyl series on Blast First Petite celebrating Suicide's Alan Vega's 70th birthday (along with an insane live Suicide box set from 1977-1978). Enjoy.

Camera Obscura - "Tougher Than The Rest" (Springsteen Cover) (Live KEXP 06-June-2009) (removed by request).
Everything But The Girl - "Tougher Than The Rest" (Springsteen Cover).
Bruce Springsteen - "Dream Baby Dream" (Suicide Cover). Youtube.

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 15

2009-06-12T14:15:00.010-05:00

Some faves over the past four months or so. Enjoy.

01 - Johnny Foreigner - "Feels Like Summer".
02 - Two Door Cinema Club - "Undercover Martyn".
03 - Phoenix - "Countdown (Sick For The Big Sun)".
04 - Fanfarlo - "Fire Escape".
05 - Marching Band - "Travel In Time".
06 - Parachutes - "Tree Roots Turn To Forts".
07 - Peggy Sue - "Lover Gone".
08 - Jessica Lea Mayfield - "For Today (Live "Have You Heard " Session)".
09 - Bowerbirds - "Northern Lights".
10 - Airship - "Algebra".
11 - The Answering Machine - "Obviously Cold".
12 - Anamanaguchi - "Dawn Metropolis".
13 - Winston Audio - "Troubles".

A Century Removed: The Soup Dragons - "Whole Wide World"

2009-06-01T11:00:00.004-05:00

The "I Hang Suspended" blog recently posted the first three singles by The Soup Dragons, all of which were released by The Subway Organization between 1986-1987. The first of these, the "Whole Wide World" single, remains one of my all-time favorite singles. I was fortunate enough to buy it on a trip to England with my parents in 1987 thanks to an awesome shop owner in Preston, England (who also fortunately convinced me to pick up the first three Talulah Gosh singles; proof that record-store owners can be great taste makers). I wore out the grooves of this 7" that summer and only later found the additional 12" track of "Pleasantly Surprised". I realize that it's 22 years later now, but these songs still have the bounce of the best Buzzcocks tracks. Enjoy.

The Soup Dragons - "Whole Wide World".
The Soup Dragons - "I Know Everything".
The Soup Dragons - "Pleasantly Surprised".

Songs The Cramps Taught Us

2009-05-26T13:48:00.006-05:00

Earlier this year, music fiends everywhere mourned the passing of the great Lux Interior, lead singer of The Cramps. In the wake of that sad event, loads of music both by The Cramps and music that inspired The Cramps has risen from the ashes to keep Lux's legacy alive.

This is a tribute post to Lux, compiling links of the garage/rockabilly/blues/surf/trash music that inspired The Cramps. Dig in. There are some real gems here.

- Songs The Cramps Taught Us volumes One, Two, and Three, courtesy of Dr. Faustroll.
- The Purple Knif Radio Show, hosted by Lux Interior, also courtesy of Dr. Faustroll.
- Lux & Ivy's Favorites, Volumes 1 through 11, courtesy of WMFU DJ Kogar the Swinging Ape.
- Finally, an obscurity from The Cramps, the 1979 "All Tore Up" demos courtesy of Detailed Twang.

There's a ton of music there. Enjoy. It will take me years to digest it all.

"I think the people who don't understand The Cramps are square, uptight, repressed people, and I don't know, there are probably so many things they don't understand that it's just sad for them". - Lux Interior, R.I.P..

Samples:
The Collins Kids - "Whistle Bait".
The Trashmen - "Surfin' Bird".
The Sonics - "Strychnine".
Hasil Adkins - "She Said".
The Novas - "The Crusher".

Ume - The Conductor

2009-05-22T11:27:00.004-05:00

This song has been floating around for a few months and I'm not sure why I never paid much attention to it. These Austinites take the "Loveless" template, put a major fist behind it and then pull it all back in an insanely catchy chorus. I'm addicted.

Ume - The Conductor (purchase here / watch video here).

Slow Club : Bandstand Busking

2009-05-19T15:07:00.004-05:00

Just an FYI here. If you are a fan of the mighty Slow Club, then get over to Bandstand Busking and check out these performances. And while you're there, Frightened Rabbit is worth a listen as well.

Pure & Unadulterated Northern Soul : Volume 1

2009-05-05T13:19:00.008-05:00

While looking through the archives recently for a certain disc, I came across a self-made compilation entitled "Pure & Unadulterated Northern Soul: Volume 1". I remember that I had four volumes of this which I would use when DJing Northern Soul nights around Los Angeles. I also copied these discs for interested friends.

I'm posting this compilation in its entirety here as it's as perfect a "Northern Soul's Greatest Hits!" mix as anything you are likely to find. Some of these songs are complete classics for me. I could go on and on, but it's better for you to just listen to the music (for more information on Northern Soul go here). More volumes to come if I can find them. In the meantime, put on your dancing shoes and talc up the floor.

01 - George Lemons - "Fascinating Girl" (Instrumental version).
02 - The Majestics - "It Hurts Me".
03 - Detroit Soul - "All Of My Life".
04 - Frank Wilson - "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)".
05 - Willie Tee - "Walking Up A One-Way Street".
06 - The Supremes - "He's All I Got".
07 - Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto - "Do I Make Myself Clear".
08 - Timothy Wilson - "I Must Love You".
09 - The Creation - "I Got The Fever".
10 - The Chi-Lites - "Love Bandit".
11 - The Olympics - "I'll Do A Little Bit More".
12 - The Impressions - "You've Been Cheatin'".
13 - Chubby And The Turnpikes - "I Didn't Try".
14 - Frankie Beverly And The Butlers - "If That's What You Wanted".
15 - The Wooden Nickels - "More Than A Friend".
16 - The Remarkables - "I Can't Give Up On Losing You".
17 - Cindy Scott - "I Love You Baby".
18 - Chuck Wood - "Seven Days Too Long".
19 - The Ivories - "Please Stay".
20 - The Jades - "I'm Where It's At".
21 - The Fabulous Peps - "With These Eyes".
22 - Bobby Paris - "Personally".
23 - Percy Wiggins - "It Didn't Take Much".
24 - The Opals - "I'm So Afraid".
25 - The Epitome Of Sound - "You Don't Love Me".
26 - The O'Jays - "I Dig Your Act".
27 - Sunny And The Sunliners - "If I Could See You Now".
28 - The Seven Souls - "I Still Love You".

The Gaslight Anthem (Yet Again)

2009-05-01T14:02:00.009-05:00

I was fortunate enough to catch The Gaslight Anthem live this week at Antone's here in Austin and I'm thrilled that I did. I've loved "The '59 Sound" since it came out last year but had never dug deeper.

"And I know you're dying for a good time, I'm dying to breathe again...".

Most of the shows I go to are of the "indie" variety, well attended by the questionably stylish and under-fed. When I walked into Antone's with my friend, his first comment was "way more of a 'mainstream' crowd", which really meant "everybody is of normal weight and wearing t-shirts and jeans". Odd as it sounds, it was really refreshing. This was a night about music and the way it travels with you and can document your life. If you're unfamiliar with these guys, imagine a cooler, younger Springsteen spinning classic American tales about classic cars, sad old soul songs, and waiting in vain at the local diner for that girl ("and the waiter served my coffee with a consolation sigh..."). Every image belongs in a movie.

"You remind Anna if she asks why, that a thief stole my heart while she was making up her mind...".

All of that said, this was by far the best show that I've been to in ages. Rock'n'roll at his purest core, all pretense wiped aside (gratefully). Arms pumped in the air, choruses rung through the crowd and every word was echoed by the attending faithful. It was awesome. Dig in if you haven't already. This kid has soul in spades.

The Gaslight Anthem - "Casanova, Baby!".
The Gaslight Anthem - "Here's Looking At You, Kid".

"Forget this deadman's town, I'll take you home...".

The Strange Boys

2009-05-01T13:55:00.015-05:00

While waiting at Maggie Mae's for Cut Off Your Hands last month at SXSW 2009, I got to talking to the person next to me about good bands we'd seen so far. She mentioned Austin's own The Strange Boys who were completely foreign to me. I asked the always difficult "what do they sound like?" to which she replied, "Like a young Dylan fronting an old 60s garage punk band". She couldn't have been more right and I've been unable to drag myself away from this here tune for the past month plus. Enjoy.

The Strange Boys - "Woe Is You And Me".

A Century Removed: The Yardbirds

2009-04-24T12:27:00.008-05:00

While eating at Tacos A-Go-Go (amazing queso) this week while on business in Houston, I heard The Yardbirds' "Heartful of Love" for the first time in years. When I was about 15, one of the first singles I ever bought (7" vinyl was the only option then) was an oldies reissue of "For Your Love" / "Heartful of Soul". I loved it but strangely never pursued anything else by the band.

About ten years later, a kind mod from the band Tapestry Drive took me deeper into the Yardbirds archives (not to mention The Easybeats, The Eyes, The Action, ahhh...). "I Ain't Got You" and "A Certain Girl" proceeded to rock my stereo for years on end after that. The best tracks ever by this stellar band. Total stiff-backed mod goodness oozing pure personality ("Well one day I'm gonna wake up and say 'I'll do anything just to be your slave'..." and "I've got women to the right of me, I've got women to the left of me, I've got women all around me, but I ain't got you..."). Play them loud and these songs sound as tight as ever.

The Yardbirds - "A Certain Girl".
The Yardbirds - "I Ain't Got You".

Anamanaguchi - "So Bored" (Wavves Cover)

2009-04-21T17:23:00.004-05:00

I'm jealous of this Anamanaguchi cover of the Wavves tune "So Bored" (and so catchy). More info here and here.

Anamanaguchi - "So Bored" (Wavves Cover).
Wavves - "So Bored".

Anamanguchi Muxtape.

Helen Love - Calm Down Dad...

2009-04-13T11:26:00.005-05:00

I first heard this song about three months after my now four-month old daughter was born (who's my total BFF these days). It made me feel old and somewhat terrified. Fortunately, it's amazingly catchy.

"Calm down dad, I'm growing up real fast. I know what I'm doing, I'm a teenager in love...". I just don't look forward to being on the receiving end of that comment. Argh. "I don't care what you've been told, I'm still young and you're still old - and The Clash were thirty years ago!".

This song is impressively clever (love the Kate Nash reference) but it's the end that is especially poignant ("White Riot, I want a riot of my own..."). Can you blame the kids?

Helen Love - "Calm Down Dad".

SXSW 2009: A Cheapskate's Guide

2009-03-19T10:32:00.026-05:00

OK. This is for Brown, Billy, Jared, and the three other people following along. Yesterday was Day One of the fabulous annual gift of SXSW. I'll try to update this as things go, but life is busy (you know... family, job, the things that are more important than music), so be patient. And many thanks to my wife and mother-in-law for picking up my parental slack and allowing me to enjoy what is becoming my annual indulgence. Everything listed below was free.

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009: Day One wrap-up, in order as the day progressed:
1 - Danny Malone (Paradise) - Perfect way to start things up. Still love this kid. ("Since Then" / more).
2 - Brothers and Sisters (Paradise) - Austin band gone 70s Calfornia.
3 - Ferraby Lionheart (Paradise) - First time seeing the folksy troubadour. Great tunes. ("Dear Corrine" / more).
4 - Micachu & The Shapes (Ms Bea's) - UK oddballs with great rhythms. ("Golden Phone" / "Calculator").
5 - Tacocat (Ms Bea's) - Unfortunately tuneless and chordy girl noise-pop from Seattle.
6 - Old Blood (Emo's Outside) - Walked in on this duo and dug the last tune. Like Matt & Kim through a distortion box instead of a keyboard.
7 - Deastro (Emo's Annex) - So began the wait for Maus Haus. These guys seemed like a forgettable British band to me.
8 - The Phenomenal Handclap Band (Emo's Annex) - Felt like a throwback to the dirty disco of 70s NYC. Lots of people, not a lot of catchiness.
9 - Maus Haus (Emo's Annex) - Longest sound-check ever cut the show to four songs, but those quirky rhythms came through. The younger keyboard/singer guy was probably the coolest kid in town. Sometimes you can tell when people are just chock full of novel ideas. ("Reaction" / "Rigid Breakfast").
10 - Harlem Shakes (Maggie Mae's inside) - Nerdy popsters with a few good tunes. So impressed that they could all sing so well. These full-band harmonies are a nice trend. ("Strictly Game").
11 - Cut Off Your Hands (Maggie Mae's upstairs inside) - Highlight of the day, for sure. Felt like a greatest hits set. The hooks just kept coming. Get on this bandwagon and book them into the holy pop trinity with The Cribs and The Wombats. That good. ("Turn Cold" / more).
12 - Pete & The Pirates (Peckerheads) - So catchy. You should know this story by now. ("Jennifer").
13 - Let's Wrestle (Ms Bea's) - I swear there are some tunes buried beneath that early Dinosaur Jr sludge. The atonal vocals were tough and the drummer always felt a touch behind, but they have a few hooks up their sleeves. ("I Won't Lie To You").
14 - Pete & The Pirates (Ms Bea's) - Yes, again. Clean riff-driven pop with the most perfect harmonies. I'm a massive fan. ("Mr. Understanding").
15 - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Ms Bea's) - Packed-crowd, band playing on the floor. I felt like what it must be to be a 5'1" Japanese girl at a packed gig. Frustrating (I'm the annoying tall white guy in the front). The tunes came through though. Would love to see them again. Probably the world's best "we lived on C86 & Sarah for years and this is what we came up with" band around. ("Come Saturday" / "Contender").

The goal today is Glasvegas. I'm hoping they sound more 2007 than slick 2009 to be honest. I hope the doo-wop hearts shine through (I mean, do you remember the promise of this one?). It's well documented in these pages that I love this gang, so I'm hoping the teen crush is validated today. I'm sure it will be. So, I'll be camping out at the Mohawk hopefully also enjoying the likes of Vivian Girls, Wavves, and School of Seven Bells. Time to go...
____________________________________

Thursday, March 19th, 2009: Day Two wrap-up, in order as the day progressed:
1 - Vivian Girls (Mohawk Outside) - Met up with my friend Dee at the Mohawk around 12:30 PM and settled in for what would eventually be Glasvegas. Vivian Girls were up first and didn't seem thrilled about the early hour. I wasn't too familiar with them but was pleasantly surprised with their Tiger Trap bounce and general 90s K Records / Kill Rock Stars sound. The lead singer looked a lot like Kim Shattuck of the The Muffs (sigh), which was mildly frustrating because I started craving "Lucky Guy" instead of the Vivian Girls...
2 - Wavves (Mohawk Outside) - This duo seems to get a lot of blog love and I've yet to be converted, but seeing them live (with less distortion) helped me glean the tunes from the muck. I was increasingly sold as the set progressed and need to investigate further. Kind of like a No Age with way better melodies. ("So Bored").
3 - School of Seven Bells (Mohawk Outside) - I was excited to see this group and wasn't disappointed. While I honestly only like a couple of their songs, the vocals live were really good; very "Persian-esque" harmonies actually. I also dug the very "Loveless" tremelo-ed out strums. Great guitar tones. "Half Asleep" was the fave.
4 - Glasvegas (Mohawk Outside) - At this point, it felt like we were moving from "indie" bands to "rock stars". While the other bands had minimal stage/soundcheck help, the Glasvegas crew took the stage five strong. The change-over lasted about 40 minutes, complete with guitar pick holders mounted to all microphone stands. Unfortunately, the first few tunes ("Geraldine", "Lonesome Swan", "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry") were somewhat compromised by overly reverbed vocals, just too much guitar, and what seemed to be excessive stage movement in an attempt to "get into it". I was honestly a bit bummed as it just wasn't "connecting" in my opinion (it felt a bit posturing). Then, there was a new intro into "Flowers and Football Tops" and things started to click. The intro was a simple guitar-swell joined by James crooning out "why you not home yet?". For me, that's when the entire "blue-collar streets of Glasgow" vibe started to come across. "Flowers" is quite honestly one of the saddest songs ever (I used to sing it as a lullaby to my son when he was in pain and I'd get choked up before I would ever even hit the second chorus). It's a complete anthem, to me. From there, they went into "Ice Cream Van" which saw James really belting things out. The kid has pipes and it showed here more than ever. "Go Square Go" (the single version) was next with its classic "here we go, here we go..." mantra and finally "Daddy's Gone" was the expected closer. All in all, it ended as cinematic as I hoped it would be. While some of the early subtlety and charm still seem a touch lost in the neo-shoegaze guitars, the "broken hearts" vibe still shines through. Classic band.
5 - The Henry Clay People (Peckerheads) - From here we walked around a bit as there wasn't anything that I was strongly into by the late afternoon. We headed to Peckerheads and sat through Dark Meat (odd) and MegaFaun (like hillbillies covering early Slowdive at points) until The Henry Clay People came on. I don't love these guys as it's still a bit "major chord" for my blood, but the kids can throw a party. The energy was awesome and the songs had definite hooks. We're talking Springsteen/Replacements here and done really nice. They were refreshingly pose-free and just completely into it (not typical for an LA band). I'll definitely check these guys out.

By now, it was around dinnertime and my wife, kids, and mother-in-law met us downtown for some food and a stroll down 6th. My two-year son had his finger in his ear for most of the walk. It was hilarious. I can't blame him. The clash of band-noise on the street gets really annoying (why do open-air venues always book death metal bands?). The highlight of the walk was this Japanese band called Quaff who were obviously shooting a music video as they "marched" and lip-synced up 6th street. They tried to act so tough and then started chanting (as a boombox feebly attempted to blast out their music) "Shake Your Booty", complete with overhead clapping, at which point it all felt very boy-band. It was then off to home and unintentionally falling asleep with my son before the clock even struck 10 PM...
____________________________________

Friday, March 20th, 2009: Day Three wrap-up, in order as the day progressed:
1 - The Rural Alberta Advantage (Mohawk, Inside) - Friday started just after noon as I slid into the Mohawk for the first part of the annual "Hot Freaks" party. The Wrens were just wrapping up on the outside stage, so I caught a couple of tunes (not my thing) and headed inside for the curiously named Rural Alberta Advantage. I'd never seen a show inside at the Mohawk and it was quite nice. These two guys and one girl were pretty good. I'm not so familiar with their stuff, but the first obvious comparison that hits you is Neutral Milk Hotel (that voice). All in all, a good set. ("Don't Haunt This Place" / "Four Night Rider").
2 - Little Boots (Emo's Jr. aka Inside) - I quickly headed down Red River and walked in just in time (a fortunate and common happening this year) to see Little Boots at 1 PM. I'm a huge fan of "Meddle" (moreso this remix), but the rest of the set was a bit too Dido for my blood. They are good at what they do though.
3 - The Warlocks (Maggie Mae's upstairs room) - Out of Emo's and straight west to Maggie Mae's to catch the drugged-up jams of The Warlocks. I'm not the hugest fan, but I am a sucker for those guitar sounds. This band has incredible guitar tone (thank Gretsch and Vox). I liked their set, though it did feel a bit odd at 1:30 in the afternoon.
4 - The Antlers (Emo's Annex) - After The Warlocks, I headed back to Emo's Jr in a vain attempt to catch The Pains of Being Pure at Heart again (line down the street), then headed back up Red River to the back-up plan of American Analog Set at Club DeVille (line up the street again). At this point I ran into a friend of mine and we headed back to 6th. As we were walking past Emo's Annex, I heard The Antlers playing "Two", a song that has slowly grown on me over the past few months. We cruised in and caught the end of it (which ended their set). I need to dig a little deeper with these guys.
5 - Loney Dear (Flamingo Cantina) - We headed across 6th to the Flamingo Cantina to check out Sweden's Loney Dear, who were disappointing. I expected live drums and shoegaze guitars, but got a drum machine and acoustic guitar. Perhaps they are changing; I have no idea.
6 - Cut Off Your Hands (Radio Room) - Off to the new Radio Room we went to await Cut Off Your Hands. In the meantime, it was Gentelman Reg (no thanks) and Young Galaxy (as Simon Cowell would say, "forgettable"). Both bands were harmless enough but never grabbed me (I like hooks). Eventually, New Zealand's finest took the stage and cranked out the same set as on Wednesday (which was fine with me). "Oh Girl", "Still Fond", "Turn Cold", etc. All classics.
7 - Maus Haus (The Wave) - I made a quick dash out of the Radio Room up the street to catch 2/3 of Maus Haus's set. I'm increasingly into these guys. Very original. ("We Used Technology (But Technology Let Us Down)").
8 - Dear And The Headlights (The Tiniest Bar In Texas) - It was now time to make a mad dash across town to see these guys from Arizona who I've been dying to see forever. I grabbed a slice of pizza (you know, for the journey) and headed west. I happened to walk by Latitude 360 where My Latest Novel ("The Reputation of Ross Francis") were playing. I stopped and looked in from the open front of the club. I'd love to see these guys, but what can you do. After walking 12 blocks west, I walked in on Dear about two minutes before they started. The set was awesome. I honestly love these guys. They even honored my shouted request of "I Just Do". I'd love to see a full set. ("It's Gettin' Easy" / more)
9 - Hatcham Social (The Fader/Levis Fort) - So, 12 blocks back east in a vain attempt to slip into Camera Obscura (line down the street). Then, off to the east side of town to await Hatcham Social. Fortunately, I showed up thirty minutes early as the line was massive. When I finally got in, Women were just finishing up. I'd heard their set through the fence while I was waiting and didn't really notice too much. This Fader/Levis Fort party was really impressive, spread out over a huge block in east Austin. The stage was massive and Hatcham Social looked somewhat lost on it. There were about 60 people into at the front and the other thousand or so partiers just milled around towards the back. The band sounded pretty good. "Murder In The Dark" is already classic and "So So Happy Making" sounded better than I expected. I must admit that I pined for their version of "Surfin' Safari", but in spite of its omission I was well pleased with the set. This band has a great future.
10 - Mika Miko (Ms Bea's) - Next it was off to Ms Bea's to await Mika Miko, the feminine pride of LA's The Smell club and a band that I've wanted to see live even though I don't necessarily love them. When I got to Ms Bea's, they were running well behind, so I sat through Japanther (fun band), Garotas Seucas (garagey tones from Brazil) and The Homosexuals ('78/79 style 'punk'; think Adverts or Athletico). Finally, Mika Miko hit the stage. Their guitar/basslines are straight out of LA 1979. Very catchy in that early Germs/SST way. The set was high energy and the kids went nuts for it. It was good. ("Wild Bore").

At this point, I went home to pick up my wife so we could come back downtown to grab some dinner and hang out. We ended up at the Lose Control party at Canvas (dance/electronica type stuff). The evening also included overhearing Metallica at Stubb's (no thanks) and hearing a band play not one, but two Twisted Sister covers ("We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock", what else?). We headed home around 1:30 or so, pretty tired. Good day.
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Saturday, March 21st, 2009: Day Four wrap-up, in order as the day progressed:
1 - Casiokids (Lambert's BBQ, upstairs) - After a fun morning with my son (and Mickey Mouse pancakes), I excitedly headed to Lambert's to see Slow Club. When I walked in, they were running behind, so I sat through Norway's Casiokids and was really bored. Sorry.
2 - Slow Club (Lambert's BBQ, upstairs) - This was the moment that I'd been waiting for and they didn't disappoint at all. On the contrary, the set was more perfect than I expected with the only complaint being its unfortunate brevity. They started the with classic single "Me And You" and then played a few new songs which sounded great and are on their CD due for a June release this year. They ended the set by stepping into the crowd away from the microphones and doing an intimate version of "When I Go" sans any amplification. Chills. Honestly, this was the best show of the week for me. This band is so perfectly charming and talented it's absolutely amazing. My pick for album of the year already. I'll still be listening to them in ten years time. Classic. (more and more).
3 - Crystal Stilts (Spiderhouse Cafe) - I went home to get the family for the evening's finale of Explosions In The Sky and talked them into a detour to quickly see Crystal Stilts. I walked in two minutes before the first note. These JAMC/VU kids add some great tunes to a classic sound (and their keyboard player was the best "Rock Talker" of the week, by far). New single "Love Is A Wave" is a reverber-out burner. I'm into these guys.
4 - Explosions In The Sky - We headed down to Auditorium Shores (just south of the river) for the free city party featuring local headliners Explosions In The Sky (if you don't them yet, do yourself a huge favor). The crowd was huge and it was very "festival in a dirt field". We had the two kids in tow, so we hung to the back. When they finally took the stage (as they said looking out over the massive crowd - "This is a dream, so if you want to dream with us, we're Explosions In The Sky from this city"), the sound was sadly horrible, so we made a dash to the bridge in an attempt to find a better mix. No luck. Then finally we headed to the walking trail by the river. We ended up right behind the stage, between the stage and the river. The mix finally sounded awesome even though we were behind the PA (in the field, the huge crowd absorbed the subtleties of their sound). What started terrible actually worked out really well. I was able to sit on some stone steps by the river holding my son while my wife held our baby daughter. Looking out over the river and the Austin skyline with Explosions playing in the back was definitely one of those movie moments. At the set's end, we were surprised by a huge firework show right over the water (front-row view). It was awesome. My love of Austin sunk in a bit deeper.

Well, 360 days to go until SXSW 2010. This was my third year and it's increasingly stunning every year. The scale of it all has to be experienced to be comprehended in the least. To use an overused phrase, it's very "punk rock" to the core.

So, to close, my SXSW 2009 Awards:
1 - Best Song - Slow Club doing "When I Go" while standing in the crowd.
2 - Gold Medal Best Set - Slow Club at Lambert's BBQ.
3 - Silver Medal Best Set - Cut Off Your Hands at Maggie Mae's.
4 - Bronze Medal Best Set - Dear And The Headlights at The Tiniest Bar in Texas.
5 - Top Misses: Camera Obscura and Tyvek.
6 - Best Venue - Ms Bea's, a little bar in East Austin that was as punk rock as anything I've ever seen (in spirit, not just music). This place was dominated by the kids and felt like an emerging youth movement ten times more than any other joint in town. They did about 24 bands per day in the dirt backyard of a tiny tiny dive bar. Awesome.

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 14

2009-02-18T08:19:00.005-06:00

Alright. Since I saw you last, we've been blessed with a beautiful baby girl and two major surgeries that seem to have my son pointed in the right direction healthwise. It's been an insanely busy and emotionally rollercoastery time. There hasn't been much time for music, but here are the tunes that have kept my brain sane and ears entertained (sans commentary this time around).

01 - The Answering Machine - "Another City, Another Sorry".
02 - Cut Off Your Hands - "Turns Cold".
03 - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - "Come Saturday".
04 - Minisnap - "New Broom".
05 - School Of Seven Bells - "Half Asleep".
06 - Mercy Arms - "Down Here, So Long".
07 - Right On Dynamite - "Mantra For The Madness".
08 - Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - "Optimist Vs. Silent Alarm".
09 - Ferraby Lionheart - "Dear Corrine".
10 - Camera Obscura - "My Maudlin Career".
11 - Pete And The Pirates - "Jennifer".
12 - Bloc Party - "Signs". (removed by request)
13 - Mike Bones - "What I Have Left".

Merry Christmas

2008-12-09T00:38:00.007-06:00

Our son is knocking on two years old and is currently wading into his first Christmas where he 'gets it'. Christmas trees. Christmas lights on houses. Frosty the Snowman. Santa Claus. Rudolph. It's all new and he's eating it up and bursting with smiles. Let the cynics scoff cause it's all about the kids and I'm thrilled to be along for the ride.

"It's not bad of you to think of what might go wrong, but you can't blame me for secretly hoping that I'll prove you wrong..."

We've got a new addition coming soon soon soon (a baby girl...), so I'll likely be "gone" for awhile. Merry Christmas and God bless. Life is good indeed.

Slow Club - "Christmas TV".

Me On The Decks Tonight (Yeah, As If...)

2008-12-05T14:04:00.008-06:00

(This will never happen, but...) Let's say I walk into this club tonight (you know, more indie-hipster than R'n'B) and the manager is in a panic because he/she can't find anybody of sufficient quality to man the decks. Well, duh, I take over and drop this on them. No brainer. Seven tasty movers of foot and fringe. Play it LOUD, yo. (OK, I'll go back to reality now...)

01 - Love Is All - "Wishing Well".
02 - Little Boots - "Meddle" (Toddla T Remix).
03 - Maus Haus - "Reaction".
04 - Sexy Kids - "Sisters Are Forever".
05 - Surf City - "Headin' Inside".
06 - Lykke Li - "Little Bit" (AutoErotique Bootleg Remix).
07 - Asobi Seksu - "Red Sea".

Stricken City

2008-11-10T10:10:00.008-06:00

OK. Favorite band of the past month here (Gaslight Anthem silver, Muslims bronze). As I mentioned before (are you still LOVING "Tak o Tak"?!?!?!?), Stricken City summon my lost love for Life Without Buildings, mix in Altered Images, early early Siouxsie, a dose of Bow Wow Wow, and much of the current "the 80s are back but with a new twist" scene (done much more dutifully in the UK, mind you). The rather pop-art videos ("Tak of Tak", "Lost Art") further confirm the utter amalgam of stated influences (per Myspace: namely "first love", "photos of the Beatles in Hamburg", and releases like the Spiral Scratch EP and the Colossal Youth LP) and it's the most entertaining thing I've come across in months (besides this Comet Gain "press release" which kills me). Please please please come to SXSW. I'll be at your feet in the first row.

Stricken City - "Lost Art".
Stricken City - "Five Metres Apart".

The Muslims

2008-11-10T09:48:00.003-06:00

I mentioned them once before and have since been ear-glued to their Velvets / Modern Lovers strum. "Parasites" pummels it's primarily solitary chord right into you with floor-tom driven monotony while "Beside Myself" takes an alternative route and riff teases it's way all about you. Good on you San Diego (buy it now).

The Muslims - "Parasites".
The Muslims - "Beside Myself".

The Gaslight Anthem

2008-11-03T14:19:00.008-06:00

I still remember the grit and grime of my first visit to New Jersey many years ago when I found myself couped up in an after-midnight Hackensack diner booth waiting for my work colleagues to fly into Newark. I still remember the over-aged waitress, her chain-smoker stench and her hilarious retelling of far too many failed relationships. She killed the final dregs of her shift in my booth, as amused by my West Coast innocence as I was by her wrinkled, "I've seen things you can't even imagine" vibe. Her posture and manner reminded you that here was a fighter. Here was somebody that no man, circumstance, community, or underpaying job could hold down. Blue-collar soul in spades.

"No retreat. No regrets. Meet me by the river's edge. We're gonna wash these sins away."

And as I listen to The Gaslight Anthem, I can't imagine them coming from anywhere but Springsteen's Jersey. This is music built in overcoming. Music that is honest with life in all of its vagaries. No pretense or bull. You see, Jersey to me (beyond the affluent areas) has always seemed like the kind of place that would gladly break you if you let it. And if you didn't, it would give you a spine of steel. This is the soundtrack for the latter with choruses laden with hooks, hope, and triumph. And man I love it. (Buy it now; this entire album is solid).

"No surrender, my Bobby Jean".

The Gaslight Anthem - "The '59 Sound".
The Gaslight Anthem - "High Lonesome".
The Gaslight Anthem - "Meet Me At The River's Edge".

In My Time of Need

2008-10-08T00:02:00.005-05:00

Oddly enough, I've been married for almost 3 1/2 years now (I know that sounds like nothing to many of you). It's been the best period of my life while also stretching me in ways that I could have never foreseen. Life has thrown its curveballs and inevitably kicked up all the dust that I thought was somehow settled. Through every hope, disappointment, rekindled hope, heartache, and ultimate step forward ("one day at a time, one day at a time"), we push this little family on, doing what we can, and pleading with God for the rest.

Will you say to me a little rain's gonna come
when the sky can't offer none to me?
cause I will come for you when my days are through
and I'll let your smile just off and carry me...

Ryan Adams - "In My Time of Need"
(Live, Tractor Tavern, Seattle WA, 09.09.2000)

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 13

2008-09-30T17:23:00.019-05:00

The long hot busy summer has past. Here is what entertained my ears for the past three months. Plenty of the usual suspects. Enjoy.

01 - The Muslims - "Walking With Jesus". For two decades plus, sunny San Diego has been cranking out garage gorgeousness. This gem is an obvious cover of the classic Spacemen 3 tune jammed through with two-chord strummage that makes Jason Pierce look ancient by comparison.
02 - Stricken City - "Tak o Tak". I've tortured many friends over the years with my undying love for Life Without Buildings (R.I.P.). This song is an amazing pop version of LIB's quirky pop template. So insanely catchy.
03 - Shrag - "Forty Five 45s". I have a crush on Shrag. Seriously. Put an LP out already.
04 - The School - "I Want You Back". I'm still a sucker for a big girl pop production. This one feels like you've heard it a million times before but want to spin it once more. Ah, that chorus...
05 - Slow Club - "Summer Shakedown". Truly it was a summer soundtracked by Slow Club, so I'm going to cheat and drop in two more tunes. The shouts here are the best since Fionn Regan's "Hey Rabbit" ("the springs in!"), which kill me every time. And that's a statistic far more important than stupid chart positions.
06 - Bears - "Making Something". I don't know the first thing about them, but this tune strolls.
07 - Internet Forever - "Break Bones". Distorto Casiotone-pop. Killer harmonic chorus.
08 - Brendan Canning - "Hit The Wall". One of the Broken Social Scene gang. This is a classic shoegazer.
09 - Johnny Foreigner - "Salt Pepa And Spinderella". I live for the Johnny Foreigner explosion (see the 2:06 mark).
10 - Danny Malone - "Since Then" (Live Acoustic). My local Austin favorite. The kid still has it in spades. I swear every melodic line begs about thirteen harmony parts. It's so natural. New LP coming soon. Be stoked.
11 - Tokyo Police Club - "Sixties Remake". I spent a month in Canada this summer. Go figure that TPC would occupy some ear space. "Elephant Shell" is a killer album.
12 - Slow Club - "Dance To The Morning Light". Part 2 of my gushing Slow Club love here. It's not fair of them to write so many absolutely pure gems. Probably my favorite band right now. Go buy the EP.
13 - Glasvegas - "S.A.D. Light". So, the debut Glasvegas album finds me at a crossroads (as previously documented). If you've never heard the original tunes, go download them right now. I still love these guys but a bit is lost. That original edge is somehow a bit too polished now. I know that's so cliche to say, but man. I still love these guys. Next to Slow Club as the most promising band around still.

Slow Club

2008-07-03T13:46:00.004-05:00

Yes, so they've been mentioned twice before, but truly I can't stop gushing. Slow Club are as good of a band as you'll find anywhere these days and I'm looking forward to their debut album more than anyone else's (yep, it's true). And I'll tell you why. One word. Charm. As in CHARM. They've got in it spades and when you've got that then there's no need for posturing or being gimmicky.

Here's an "old" (I mean, 2007, c'mon...) UK radio session that I've been loving lately.

Slow Club - "Because We're Dead" (Radio Session).
Slow Club - "I'm Alive" (Radio Session).
Slow Club - "Sunday" (Radio Session). (This is quite easily my favorite tune of the past month; oh, I could go on... but I won't.) (And, check out "Dance Till The Morning" on their myspace page...)

Glasvegas 1st Major Label Single

2008-07-03T13:23:00.004-05:00

OK. I need to calm down cause I'm really frustrated right now. Argh. I could easily launch into a diatribe about the pointlessness of major labels in 2008, but I'll resist for now. Regardless, here's the bad news about the recent Glasvegas signing to Columbia UK:

New single "Geraldine" is now out (the good news). However, as a USA resident, I cannot figure out how to access it. (1) Stupid iTunes seems to have the b-sides in the UK store and I can't purchase them without a UK payment card. (2) I could order the actual CD single through Columbia UK (which I'd love to do), but the shipping to Texas is (oh, let's see) $18.40 for the cheapest shipping option, bringing the total cost to $27.43. Uh, I don't think so.

So, it's 2008, right? Then why can't I pay for a download of each and every new A and B-side? Man, it was so easy before. Yeah, I'm frustrated. (In other frustrations, why does everything they touch now have to be so 'big'? Back off on the shoegazing guys, your songs are good enough).

The good news is that the always kind Glasvegas manager sent me my first swag ever in the form of a "Geraldine" promotional CD copy. Since you can't download this in the US, here are the "Radio Edit" and "Instrumental" versions. Enjoy.

Glasvegas - "Geraldine" (Radio Edit).
Glasvegas - "Geraldine" (Instrumental).

PS - Here's the new website and the single charted at #16 in the UK. Impressive. If only I could buy it...

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 12

2008-07-03T12:14:00.012-05:00

Long before the muxtape, there was "A Baker's Dozen". And it's back. Volume 12. Enjoy.

01 - Lykke Li - "Dance Dance Dance". "When I'm shaking my hips, look for the swing, the words are written in the air...". My #2 favorite song of the past month (with #3 here and #1 coming up).

02 - Florence & The Machine - "Kiss With A Fist". Well, I can't say I recommend the sentiments of this one, but not taken literally it's a great jam. This tune does a great job of doing what a TV critic told a dance contestant last night ("you need to get into the floor more!"; amen).

03 - Absentee - "Bitchstealer". The mighty Absentee are back with the deep gravel baritone firmly in place. If you're a fan, you'll dig this one.

04 - People of Water - "Vale of Aching Hearts". The first of two instrumentals this time out. This one sounds like an outtake from The Cure during the "Pornography" era. Huge.

05 - The Rosie Taylor Project - "Black And White Films". I've referenced this tune before and so here it is. These guys (and gal; see above!) bring the melodic mellowness that I love.

06 - Ema & The Ghosts - "Ermine & Mink". One of many tunes (including The Weather Underground and The Sweet Hurt) that I've nicked from Rock Insider lately (hey, she brought me Ferraby Lionheart so I'm forever in her debt). It drifts and drifts and I'm in its wake.

07 - Underwater Getdown - "Hey". I know absolutely nothing about this band other than this tune somehow finds my skull first thing in the morning. Catchy.

08 - Organic Stereo - "Brightness". The 2nd of the 2 instrumental tunes in this set. The "glitchy electronica" thing is somewhat overdone, but this one hits.

09 - Kleerup - "Until We Bleed" (with Lykke Li). How much do we love this girl?!?!? I know!

10 - Taken By Trees - "Only Yesterday". And yet another great Swede. Soothing and impeccably cool.

11 - The Weather Underground - "How Many Operations". Interesting name choice here. Normally this style doesn't grab me, but the energy on this tune is undeniable.

12 - The Sweet Hurt - "Where Would You Go". So, going soft again. It may sound harmless, but at least it's melodic to the core, which I dig.

13 - Gemma Hayes - "At Constant Speed". This one took me a bit but I love it now. Ever watch "So You Think You Can Dance?" (if there answer is "no", change your ways now). I could see this song on there. Gorgeous.

Frightened Rabbit

2008-06-07T12:35:00.008-05:00

Took the wifey out the other night to see the mighty Frightened Rabbit at The Mohawk, my favorite venue here in Austin. While I've plugged them multiple times before, really more should be said (like that they are playing a free show at the very same venue on 6/24).

Live, Frightened Rabbit are slightly noisier than I would have expected. Not annoyingly so, just less clean than the recordings. This adds massively to the "upbeat droney" feel they create. I know that's an odd phrase, but their live show woke me up to the fact that they are one of few bands that are really masters of a unique rhythm. The Wedding Present were masters of the guitar chug. Orange Juice were masters of the jangle. Bands like The Warlocks do a great slow drone. But, few have done so well as Frightened Rabbit at creating a repetitive droney feel while still having such blatantly pop melodies (I know everybody is thinking, "What about the Velvet Underground?!?!?"; well, their rock rarely rolled like this).

Add to the feel of the music a lyrical trip through the usual subjects of love/loss/heartbreak that has an "of the times" grip on complete transparency and detail. It's completely romantic in that non-Hallmark way ("I'll turn off the TV, it's killing us we never speak; turn off the lights so we can see; we will waltz across the carpet; 1-2-3-2-2-3."). Pick up "The Midnight Organ Fight". It comes highly highly recommended.

(Funny side note: The Texas Democrats had their convention this week in Austin. While my wife and I were walking up Red River to The Mohawk, we passed this Irish bar (I forget the name of it) that was having a Hillary rally (a day late people) that was rather desolate. Then, at Club Deville, we noticed there was a huge Obama party going on (it's an outdoor venue). Two creepy moments: (1) Electronic music was blaring from the sound system with "Yes We Can" speech excerpts dubbed over it again and again and again. Weird. (2) There were about 40 people line dancing. Yes, line dancing. Mind you, this is no Texas country bar. I saw British Sea Power at this place about two months ago. Apparently the Democrats aren't quite as young and hip as this wish they were.)

Frightened Rabbit - "Modern Leper".
Frightened Rabbit - "Old Old Fashioned".
Frightened Rabbit - "Good Arms vs Bad Arms".

A Century Removed : The Cure (2nd Peel Session)

2008-06-07T12:01:00.008-05:00

Nearly ten months later, I'm back with my 2nd installment (first here) of the "A Century Removed" series, this time featuring The Cure's 2nd Peel Session. And, "why bother?", you might ask? Great question.

First of all, The Cure are playing Austin TX tomorrow night. Seeing as it's a Sunday, I'm not going. Yeah, I'm religious. It's a good thing. Besides, it's my niece's graduation weekend, so family trumps.

Second, last week I stumbled upon a version of an early Cure song that I've never heard (and let it be known that if I were forced to sit down and decide upon my all-time favorite band, I'd answer with 'The Cure' after about four seconds).

So, some history. The story goes that, apparently after the distribution to the press of their debut album "Three Imaginary Boys" (plus the white label of "Grinding Halt", reviewed by Ian Penman), music journalist Paul Morley (who actually did write a great book called "Nothing" that oddly compared/contrasted Ian Curtis's suicide with Morley's own father's) wrote one of his typically wordy and pedantic reviews (which thanks to the infinite coolness of the internet, you can actually read here). Using such phrases as "most of the time it's a voice catching its breath, a cautiously primitive guitar riff, toy drumming and a sprightly bass", Morley was less than impressed by the new band's first long player (which, while not their best, was still really good and showed massive promise for Smith as a songwriter).

Some time later, The Cure delivered their musical/lyrical response to Morley (and Penman) via a John Peel session track. Suitably titled "Desperate Journalist In Ongoing Meaningful Review Situation" and set to the music of "Grinding Halt", The Cure lashed back with some keen wordplay themselves including the sarcastic refrain of "I use such long words". Needless to say, I'm thrilled by this historic find and hope you enjoy it as well (lyrics here). For a band that people often consider overly maudlin and downright goth even (obviously missing the point entirely), this goes a long way in revealing the humor that has always been part of The Cure package. Enjoy.

The Cure - 2nd Peel Session.
Recorded 09-May-1979. Broadcast 16-May-1979.

The Cure - 01 - Desperate Journalist In Ongoing Meaningful Review Situation.
The Cure - 02 - Grinding Halt.
The Cure - 03 - Subway Song.
The Cure - 04 - Plastic Passion.
The Cure - 05 - Accuracy.

P.S. - Look at this insane set list from the Austin show! 4 songs from "Seventeen Seconds" and 7 from "Three Imaginary Boys"?!?!? Much have been nice.

An Attempt At A Return...

2008-05-19T22:55:00.000-05:00

It's been two plus months since I've posted here. Write it off to life, family, the usual time-consumers (in a good way). The young one is mobile and another is on the way (making the wife temporarily less mobile). So, if you would, sit back and allow me to catch you up on what's been flowing in and out of my ears recently. It's been a good musical year thus far and even though it's not a logical time to do this, I'm rolling out my unrequested "best so far" list for 2008.

1 - Los Campesinos: "Hold On Now, Youngster" (Myspace). This album consumed me during my February winter work tour of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and upstate New York. I could write pages (honestly). This is the #1 "left me looking like a 14-year old girl struck with Beatlemania at SXSW" band/album this year. Lyrical genius meets catchy indiepop. "It's not what you like, it's what you're like as a person...". MP3: "Knee Deep at A.T.P." / "And We Exhale And Roll Our Eyes In Unison". Video: "My Year In Lists".

2 - Mystery Jets: "21". Gnarled 80s pop, upmixed jangly guitar strums, eccentricity in spades. This is quirky pop to say the least and it works for me. "Even 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' don't ease the pain". MP3: "Veiled In Grey" / "21". Videos: "Young Love" / "Two Doors Down (as 80s as it comes)".

3 - The Wombats: "A Guide To Loss, Love, & Desperation". A bit of a disappointment only in the sense that the earlier Japanese release had demo versions of most of these songs and I wanted a load of new tunes. That aside, this is a pop classic for the ages. If you don't dig it, you're boring. MP3: "Here Comes The Anxiety". Videos: "Let's Dance To Joy Division" / "Moving To New York" / "Backfire At The Disco" / "Kill The Director".

4 - Frightened Rabbit: "The Midnight Organ Fight". I remember when Pedro The Lion could make me wait on every note. No more. Now it's Frightened Rabbit. This stuff is gorgeous. MP3: "Floating In The Froth". Videos: "Heads Roll Off".

5 - Tokyo Police Club: "Elephant Shell". A frequent play around these parts, Tokyo Police Club finally deliver a full album and I dig it. It's mellower than expected but worthy nonetheless. MP3: "Juno". Videos: "Tessellate".

6 - Pete And The Pirates: "Little Death". Our cover stars above, pulling in the final slot here. Catchy and smart pop here with great guitar hooks. MP3: "Mr. Understanding" / "Bright Lights". Videos: "She Doesn't Belong To Me" / "Knots" / "Mr. Understanding".

To close things out here, a few more of the tunes that have kept my ears occupied over the past two months:

Johnny Foreigner - "DJs Get Doubts". From the soon to be released "Waited Up Til It Was Light" debut album. Here is the video for new single "Eyes Wide Terrified".

The Rosie Taylor Project - "Sun". Also check out the video for "Black And White Films".

Duffy - "Mercy (video)". You've heard this a thousand times already and I can't say I love this song (it's kinda cool), but this video is legit. Northern Soul steps, spins, kicks, and drops galore. Makes me definitely crave the talcumed dancefloor yet again.

Slow Club (legs pictured above) - "When I Go". If you were smart last time around, you picked up on this clue. Now pick up on the mp3. This song should be on every good soundtrack ever.

Glasvegas - Here's the video for the revamped "Geraldine". Bottom line, I dig the song (in spite of that "I'm your Social Worker" line). I love the drum sound, I love the chuggin' bass, I love Rab's searing guitar riff, I love the vocal line. But... oddly enough, this sounds like a classic shoegazer anthem to me; perhaps not the greatest "first single" from the forthcoming album. I don't know. I love the kids all the same and am dying to finally hear the 'debut album'.

Aushua, Foxes, Owls, Kooks

2008-03-12T01:21:00.000-05:00

Aushua - "Stained Glass Blues". My younger brother is in town for a visit (and some SXSW festivities) right now and so of course we ended up talking about the new bands we're into. He dropped the name of an Orange County outfit called Aushua on me and they are honestly my new faves. Classic mid-tempo anthemic sounds, which can get admittedly trite these days, but done very well here. Some nice touches of The Verve. Check out their Myspace page for some great songs.

Fleet Foxes - "Oliver James" & "White Winter Hymnal". Miss early My Morning Jacket and first album Band of Horses? Of course you do. This guy's voice is UNREAL it's so good. That end of "Oliver James" is amazing.

Grand Archives - "Torn Blue Foam Couch". And, following on in that vein, here are Grand Archives (with some apparent tie to Band of Horses that I can't be bothered to research). Class tune in that same genre.

Cut Off Your Hands - "Closed Eyes". Now for a little noise. I wrote about these guys last summer and they just keep cranking out the hits. These guys and Tokyo Police Club keep me so happy.

Lykke Li - "Little Bit". If you don't know this one already, you really need to get out more. This is the seductive jam for Spring. And this Swede is definitely more than a one-hit wonder. The album is good. Investigate.

Mezzanine Owls - "Snow Globe". I wrote about these guys a year ago to the day (odd). Fortunately they are coming back to SXSW and I hope to sort them in (who knows this year...). This song is another bit of pure genius, second only to "Lightbulb".

The Kooks - "Always Where I Need To Be". I've loved these guys since that first note years ago. Somewhat over-the-top pop, but homeboy can sing and write a tune. This one didn't fully catch me at first, but now it's stuck up in me brain.

See you after SXSW... In the meantime (and if you are lucky enough to be reading this while the tune is still available), do yourself a huge favor and check out "When I Go" by Slow Club. As charming as they come...

Glasvegas: Single #3

2008-02-15T09:05:00.000-06:00

The mighty Glasvegas dropped single number three yesterday (on Valentine's Day, ah), a big studio version of the lovely "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" backed with "Be My Baby" (of course...). This post is a not-so-subtle nudge for you to find your way over here, buy the single and support the undisputed 'best band in the world' (i.m.h.o.).

To whet your appetite for this classic, listen to the 'Home Tapes Demo' version here (plus other demo tracks here) and download the demo of "Geraldine" below.

Glasvegas - "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry / Be My Baby" (purchase here)
Glasvegas - "Geraldine" (Home Tapes Demo)

Website | Myspace

Leftfield: Mute Irregulars And Their Kin

2008-02-08T01:55:00.000-06:00

I'll be the first to admit that the tunes I typically post here favor my overly melodic pop tendencies. Well, today, we're going to flip to the b-side.

There are some fairly good 'art/noise/experimental/post-post-post punk' (I never know what to call it) bands coming out of the UK right now, many of whom are being adeptly harnessed under the new Mute Irregulars label. Here's a preview of this amazing new outfit along with some of their like-minded cohorts. Go buy these great singles.

XX Teens - "How To Reduce The Chances Of Being A Terror Victim (BBC Live)" (purchase). This lot have been kicking around for a few years and recently changed their moniker from the Xerox Teens to simply XX Teens (makes you feel creepy when you Google it). This song is a live BBC version of their latest single, showcasing the narrative vocals over rhythmic back-beat and usually solid bass guitar (very early Fall) style that typifies this new 'scene'. I highly recommend picking up last single "Darlin'".

Spider And The Flies - "Spider And The Flies" (purchase). This is the brainchild and side project of the immensely talented Spider Webb of The Horrors, known club promoter and all around genius. Love the drums.

Cristine - "Cross The Line" (purchase). This is just one of those big tunes that you would love to hear while walking into a club.

The Broken Hearts - "Blanco" (purchase). These girls don't really fit here very well at all except for their inclusion on Mute Irregulars. This is a tune that is the aural equivalent of their dainty flapper look. Great song.

The Bleeps - "Dull Thud" (purchase). The Bleeps lean back into familiar early post-punk territory with this masterfully rhythmic track. Dig that perfect bass-line.

These New Puritans - "Elvis" (purchase). Our cover stars (up top) here and an outfit that have been around since the early days of this new 'explosion'. A new LP is out now on Angular where you will also find the similarly styled Navvy (and if you like them, check out Electricity In Our Homes, both being very Pere Ubu / Fire Engines-esque).

Rip it up and start again, indeed.

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 11

2008-01-30T07:07:00.000-06:00

Another set that should have been posted a couple of weeks ago. Enjoy.

01. The Cribs - "Don't You Want To Be Relevant?" (buy). Seriously, this is what their B-sides sound like?!?!? It's amazing. I love the way this one kicks right in and even though I don't quite get these lyrics, I do love the "your onstage antics out in Leeds were tailor-made to suit men's needs". Three albums deep and they still have it. That's rare.

02. Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong - "Sleazy Hughes" (buy). New British press darlings here and fortunately they have the tunes to back it up. Check out new single "Lonely Buoy", last single "Lurio Starts Fires", and the Smiths-esque "I Ain't Sure". Band name of the year as well. Fortunately, they are coming through SXSW.

03. Elle S'appelle - "Little Flame" (buy). Quirky and catchy. A nice Moshi Moshi addition here.

04. The Duke Spirit - "Lassoo" (buy). "I talk to no one, oh you're invisible...". Dirty rock'n'roll at its finest. The Duke Spirit is back with their grimy souls in tow. Again, SXSW on deck!

05. Brazos - "Mary Jo" (buy). A local Austin outfit here named for a river in Texas. "Mary Jo" has been swimming through my head for months. Reminds me of classic moments from the likes of Beat Radio. Just a plain good song.

06. Plans and Apologies - "Meetoo" (buy). I don't know where I picked this one up, but it's a great slick indiepop melody that I'm always a sucker for. Well written.

07. Let's Wrestle - "I Won't Lie To You" (buy). These guys have PAVEMENT written all over them. The kind of kids that sport bedheads without the product. It just sounds so amateur and yet brilliantly catchy. "No matter how many records I buy, I can't fill this void, and no matter how I try and calm down, I can't help but feel annoyed".

08. Slow Club - "Me And You" (buy). Remember The Research from a couple years back? Same vibe here and I love it. A good melody will always have a room in my house.

09. The Wombats - "School Uniform" (buy). So, the "official" debut album is finally out and although it doesn't have a ton of new tunes, it's still brilliant. I'll even go as far as to say that these guys trump The Cribs for me, and that's a high honor. It's Glasvegas and The Wombats for me. "I remember short skirts, long hair, my hormones flying everywhere...".

10. Hatcham Social - "Til The Dawn" (buy). Listen to that voice at the start. I haven't heard that falsetto since the first Smiths album. And the rest of this sounds like it was recorded around 1985 as well, delving into the darker side of the "Young Sound of Scotland" with the likes of Josef K and The Fire Engines. I'm excited to see where things lead this lot.

11. The Moldy Peaches - "Anyone Else Isn't You" (buy). Like most, I had no clue about this song until I saw the hilarious movie "Juno" (if you haven't seen it, pack up your things and go right now). Another perfect example of two chords and a great melody getting the job done.

12. Tegan And Sara - "Soil, Soil" (buy). I took my niece to see Tegan & Sara play Stubbs here in Austin a couple of months ago and it was an amazing show. I love their tunes and harmonies. Charming performers as well.

13. The Real Tuesday Weld - "It's A Wonderful Li(f)e" (buy). "And all we ever need to do is to see the world the way dreamers do, and I'd say 'Never say die' and you'd say 'It's a wonderful life', but you know that's a wonderful lie". Optimism, faith, hope, disappointment, etc. It's all a big swirl sometimes, but I'll take my place in the "Wonderful Life" line. Cause it is.

Good Good Times Ahead

2007-12-21T16:20:00.001-06:00

Another year comes to a close and unless you were living under a rock, 2007 was a great one for music. Maybe the tunes are actually getting better lately or maybe they're just easier to get at (I sometimes wonder how many great bands were lost during the pre-Internet era).

There are so many bands to be excited about right now, most of which are coming out of the UK courtesy of forebearers like The Arctic Monkeys and The Cribs and now spilling into a new generation of punk/C86 mashers like The Wombats, Los Compesinos, Frightened Rabbit, Tokyo Police Club (I know, they're from Canada; hey, it's a commonwealth), and a few of the ones presented below. And, then there is Glasvegas. Enough said.

The Answering Machine - "Lightbulbs" (buy). "Just shut up, it's not like that; she retracts like a brick wall, but I'm her cracks."

Johnny Foreigner - "The End And Everything After" (buy). Man, this new generation of drummers just gets it. Snare rolls all over the place. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Look See Proof - "Casualty" (buy). Hear any Blink 182 in there? Of course you do. This is a great amalgam of the Atticus boys, emo, and the new school C86/punk sound. So catchy.

Rooney - "When Did Your Heart Go Missing" (buy). OK, change of pace here. Less noise, more classic pop hook. This LA band may be a bit too pretty, but every album they put out comes with at least one monster gem like this that gets stuck in my skull for days. What a hook.

Danny Malone - "Baby Bleu" (buy). The past three weeks have been an insane emotional ride. Without explanation, suffice it to say that I could write novels on sadness, hope, and 'love's easy tears' right now. Being a parent is the greatest and most heart-wrenching thing ever. When your kid isn't feeling right, you aren't feeling right. I sat in my favorite NYC deli last week and ate about 1/4 of my food. I've never been so consumed. "Wishing all day that I could clear my head, yeah wishing all day that I could clear my head, clear my head full of thoughts of you, oh you're all I think about 'baby bleu'".

Merry Christmas.

The International Tweexcore Underground

2007-11-27T23:02:00.000-06:00

(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.

Do It With All Your Heart

2007-10-30T08:11:00.000-05:00

"baby, baby, can't you see, anything you do for me, i need you to do it with all your heart. don't do what you read in the book now, don't worry about how you may look; if we go dancing once more, when you take me out on the floor, i want you to do it with all your heart..."

Dee Dee Warwick - "Do It With All Your Heart".
Marsha Gee - "Baby I Need You".
The Marvelettes - "Too Many Fish In The Sea".

The Real Thing

2007-10-18T01:48:00.000-05:00

"so you, you could wear a dress out, chin would hit the floor, my chin would hit the floor. and you could flutter those lashes i've been trying to ignore, trying to ignore. and i will wait for the real thing, i will wait for the real thing. you might as well quit if you haven't got it."

Hello Saferide - "I Was Definitely Made For These Times".
Tokyo Police Club - "Cut Cut Paste".
The Maccabees - "The Real Thing".

Ringo Deathstarr

2007-10-04T17:40:00.000-05:00

Starrgaze. Yep, that's what they call it. You know how you hate all those emo bands that deny being emo (even though they most definitely are) and then offer no other genre tag? I hate that. Or, bands that think they defy description when their sound couldn't be more generic? I hate that too. Own your tag or invent a new one (I used to be in an indiepop band. Period.). Glasvegas say they are "doo wop punk". Love it. Ringo Deathstarr say they are "starrgaze". Equally love it.

Call me a lazy blogger, but Ringo Deathstarr = Psychocandy + Loveless. And that's a huge compliment. Honestly, name another band that has lived up to either of those, well, genres really. Nobody (yes, I'm an opinionated chap). Ringo Deathstarr pull it off. I've always said "do something familiar amazingly or do something totally new". The Deathstarr pull off the former without even the slightest hesitation.

"Starrsha" makes me dizzy like "Never Understand" always has. It's perfect. And then there is "Sweet Girl" which goes all "Only Shallow" on us at the belated 2:56 mark. Sad that these guys live in Austin and I haven't been out to see them yet. That will change quick.

Ringo Deathstarr - "Starrsha".
Ringo Deathstarr - "Sweet Girl".

Buy this now through Spoilt Victorian Child.
P.S. If you don't own "Psychocandy" yet, you are missing out the greatest album ever...

Do You Like Rock Music?

2007-10-04T17:05:00.000-05:00

It's always good news when British Sea Power emerges from the studio with new tunes in tow. First preview, "Atom", has been released as a free download and is definitely a choice tune. The song will appear on an EP later in November and then on a new album to follow in the new year entitled "Do You Like Rock Music?". I have my fingers crossed. The first BSP album is still in my all-time top 10.

British Sea Power - "Atom".

I had the golden opportunity of seeing Low in concert once again last night. That makes seven (that I can remember) times across five cities (Provo, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin). I'm not floored by "Drums and Guns" yet, but I am floored by moments therein and most notably "Murderer". Deep.

Low - "Murderer" (Radio France Black Session, 05-07-2007).

And, finally, in this post of whateverness -- If you haven't started watching Friday Night Lights yet, please change your ways. It's amazing. I thank a friend for continually twisting my arm. For me, there are two shows on TV -- The Office and Friday Night Lights. FNL makes me forget that the OC ever even had a good season. I'm addicted. And, the music (provided primarily by the untouchable Explosions In The Sky) is amazing. Included below is a band that I've just discovered (not via FNL) that have a definite Explosions-esque vibe and hail from San Marcos, TX, just south of Austin.

This Will Destroy You - "I Believe In Your Victory".

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 10

2007-09-21T00:28:00.000-05:00

Well, kids, who would've thought I'd have the perseverance to make it to Volume 10 of the now world-unreknown "A Baker's Dozen" series? 10 volumes over a mere 19 months. Not too shabby. But, enough waxing nostalgic. Back to what's happening NOW!

01. Lucky Soul - "Ain't Never Been Cool". Yeah, that's it, call 'em all out on this whole "cool" thang! "I heard you say what you want, say what you want to; oh, but you don't though do you?". I must admit that this here tune reminds me of an old jingle I penned back in my fifteen-seconds of glory; this one just happens to be, oh, much much better. Website. Myspace. Purchase.

02. The Lurios - "Footloose And Fancy-Free". Oh, so it's not just me? You also thinks this sounds like The Kooks? I know, it's nice, eh? But it does serve to sadly remind me that I miss those darn Kooks. Regardless, a decent little kick-out-the-brit-pop-jams unit here. Myspace.

03. The Lodger - "My Advice Is On Loan". Twee. What a scene. Fortunately this guy picked up the finer points and left the rest of that sad lot behind. "And I can't explain why you work in an office when you have a brain". Dude, I know. Be cool now... Website. Myspace. Purchase.

04. Arctic Monkeys - "The Bakery". It's like old Alex is a bit lovesick here. Imagine that. "You're slackin' love, where have you been?". Classic. Website. Myspace.

05. Novi Split - "You Got Served". Wherein my weakness for nice harmonies lands these lads from San Pedro a deserving spot. Website. Myspace. Purchase.

06. Shout Out Louds - "You Are Dreaming". So, an old high-school boyfriend of my wife called her up last night and told her (after having not seen her for a decade plus) that he still thinks about her (get lost buddy). Fortunately, my wife's response was akin to the sentiment here - "and if you still believe I'm thinking of you, you're dreaming, yes, you're dreaming". Perhaps she's still into me. :) Website. Myspace. Purchase.

07. Camera Obscura - "San Francisco Song". (1) I am eternally addicted to songs with subtle chugs like this one (with simmering organs, mind you). (2) "I send you movie stills to rid you of your ills, cause you're ill (all high-pitched voice)". (3) How perfect is this band? Website. Myspace.

08. Voxtrot - "Honey Bee". My love/hate relationship with Voxtrot continues. I love the fact that I love their songs. I hate the fact that their songs are so non-immediate. They require an investment (as do the best of things). My short-term attention spans sometimes misses out though and gets lazy. Fortunately I tend to come around. Website. Myspace.

09. Pleasure - "Out Of Love". Yeah, I know, it's total teeny-bopper pop. But isn't it just too insanely catchy? Totally. Website. Myspace.

10. The Locarnos - "Sticks And Stones". Wait a second, didn't I play this one already? No, no, that was The Lurios. This is The Locarnos. Probably some distant cousin. And another Kooks-"tribute band"? Sounds good to me. Myspace.

11. Loney, Dear - "Sinister In A State Of Hope". By now you've realized that if you just stay with me long enough, you're going to get something all epic. Well, here it is. From the cold wintery places where this stuff tends to come from these days. Website. Myspace. Purchase.

12. Helios - "Emancipation". Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. This likely works the same magic on indie girls that Al Green works on the soul sisters. Indie seduction? I know. Odd. Myspace. Purchase.

13. Sonic Flyer - "Overseas". So, disclaimer: This one goes on way too long. So, fact: I've likely played the first three minutes of this song more than anything else in the past three months. I'm addicted to it. The verse melody and instrumentation are amazing. When she comes in at 0:36 with that cool little verse melody, it's the best shoegaze moment in the past 15 years. Easily. The floor toms, that bass drone, the simple atmospherics. It just moves. File this one after that last Helios track. You never know. One may lead to the other...... Website. Myspace. Purchase.

Let's Dance to Joy Division!

2007-09-18T08:52:00.000-05:00

"Let's dance to Joy Division and celebrate the irony / everything is going wrong but we're so happy". The Wombats are back with yet another in a seemingly endless stream of pop perfection. And apparently there is a new CD is the mix as well. Yes!

The Wombats - "Let's Dance to Joy Division". Video.
(And check out the trailer for the upcoming Joy Division movie "Control".)

And on the new singles front as well... The Cribs unleash "Moving Pictures" and Tokyo Police Club counter with "Your English Is Good". All class.

The Cribs - "Moving Pictures". Video.
Tokyo Police Club - "Your English Is Good". Video.

The Wombats | The Cribs | Tokyo Police Club

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone

2007-09-18T08:32:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasant opportunity of checking out Casiotone For The Painfully Alone live last night down at Emo's. My Father-in-Law is in town so I brought him with. I mean, how do you explain Casiotone to your Father-in-Law? Fortunately, he's a good sport and actually enjoyed the show after my lengthy "this guy is kind of like some cracked loon that you see on a street corner but a word or a phrase catches you as you pass by, then the bummedness of it all sucks you in a little deeper and suddenly you've gone from thinking 'this guy is a cracked loon' to 'this guy is a genius'".

They (he constantly referred to 'the band' in the plural, which I loved, even though it was just him) were relatively awkward live. The utter anti-thesis of your cliche David Lee Roth-era Van Halen supershow. Rather, here was a guy (well, 'them') with glasses off (and you could tell), hunching over his machinery, microphone occasionally over shoulder while he tinkered with the knobs, busy delivering his tunes with more impact than you can find on the recordings. From the opening notes of "Cold White Christmas" through to his set-ending Springsteen cover of "The Streets of Philadelphia" (which you'd swear was a Casitone song if you heard it live), he was sometimes charming, sometimes painfully shy, mixing cleverness and bummedness in a seamless stew.

If you are new to this, dig deep. Casiotone come highly recommended. Enjoy.

CFTPA - "Toby, Take a Bow".
CFTPA - "Calloused Fingers Won't Make You Strong, Edith Wong".
CFTPA - "Jeanette, If You're Ever In Portland (Live Daytrotter Session)".
CFTPA - "Tonight Was A Disaster (Live Daytrotter Session)".

Website | Myspace | Daytrotter Website

Windmill

2007-09-14T16:20:00.001-05:00

Bands that I've never been into: Modest Mouse. Built to Spill. The Flaming Lips. The Polyphonic Spree. Bands that Windmill remind me of: Modest Mouse. Built to Spill. The Flaming Lips. The Polyphonic Spree.

Be grateful for inconsistencies in taste and the fact that Windmill takes the (overly) established falsetto-voiced, thrift-clothed, US indie-boy schtick and serves it up with a wollop of pretentionless emotional ambition (wherein my musical taste perks up).

I know I throw the word "genius" around a bit, but in this case I'm (once again? haha) spot on. Windmill = one Matthew Thomas Dillon. Dude must use the word "epic" in every sentence it seems to come so naturally.

"Replace Me" snagged me from miles away. "I missed you a lot today, the paper chasing and office tied you down and messed with your ambition". This is the kind of song that makes you feel like day jobs and every other non-grandiose ambition that nickels and dimes your time to nil are as draining/useless as they sound (and yet the kids like food, so balance it all out). Regardless, it's a tune that always makes me feel like it's the "downside" (if there is such a thing with Saturday morning on deck) of Friday night. Goodbye to the city lights and back home to a sleeping baby and a re-run or two of The Office. I'm sure some people consider it "melancholic". Hopefully in only the best of ways. Enjoy.

Windmill - "Replace Me".
Windmill - "Ashmatic".
Windmill - "Plastic Pre-Flight Seats".

Website | Myspace | Purchase

Girls Girls Girls

2007-09-06T17:03:00.000-05:00

Plain and simple, there are some girls that have been killin' it lately. In swarms. These are the girls that are currently shaking my tree.

M.I.A. : If you've spent more than a minute near a music blog in the last few months, then you know M.I.A. While I liked her first release a couple of years back, it's "Kala" that has me going. "Paper Planes" sails in on The Clash's "Straight to Hell" riff and works in the first gunshot-chorus that's ever caught my attention. Then there's the 12's remix of "Boyz" which is my "walking into the house party, feeling good" tune of the month.

Brooke Wagonner: Cross the street for an entirely different sound out of Brooke Wagonner. String swells and a nice piano bounce (not to mention the Fiery Furnaces-esque middle eight) drive home the transcendent beauty of the lyrics to "Hush If You Must" ("because I'm not very adequate, not very merry, oh i try; not very tempting, and not very pretty, but I'll get by...").

Taken By Trees: Next, my "I'll take anything that sounds remotely like Camera Obscura" obsession continues with yet another Swede. Now that I've completely worn myself out on the original version of "Lost And Found", the Tough Alliance remix has pumped new life into it for me. Regardless, I'm a real sucker for the subtle plod of this one.

Kate Nash: Lastly, it's the "new Lily Allen" (thank the UK press for that one, though her "Foundations" did go to #1 there) of Kate Nash that is my tune of the week. Her debut LP "Made of Bricks" has some real gems, including the perfect "We Get On". To the degree that I understand "how girls are" (using that term loosely and it's a 3rd-grade education at best), I think this song utterly realistically and poetically captures the rollercoaster of an unrequited crush (and, guys, how often have you, in your incomparable egotism, thought that you and some girl that's never looked twice at you would "get on"? yeah, exactly). "I conducted a plan to bump into you most accidentally, but I was walking along and I bumped into you much more heavily than I'd originally planned; it was well embarassing...". And the "clincher" (delusional?) lines for me: "I don't ever dream about you and me, I don't ever make stuff up about you and me, that would be considered insanity; I don't ever drive by your house to see if you're in, I don't even have an opinion on that tramp that you're still seeing; I don't know your timetable, I don't know your face off by heart; but, I must admit that there is still a part of me that thinks that we might get on...". It's genius. Seriously, it is.

M.I.A. - "Paper Planes".
M.I.A. - "Boyz" (The 12s Remix).
Brooke Wagonner - "Hush If You Must".
Taken By Trees - "Lost And Found" (Original).
Taken By Trees - "Lost And Found" (The Tough Alliance Remix).
Kate Nash - "We Get On".

Cut Off Your Hands

2007-08-23T23:50:00.001-05:00

Back in March, I handed a little Baker's Dozen love to Cut Off Your Hands from New Zealand. Well, it's time to step that up a bit.

I remember about 15 years ago listening to one of my dad's many speeches about my being "obsessed" with music. I remember that he walked out (after yet another futile sermon), shook his head and said, "You'll get over it with age".

I'm fast approaching yet another "deep into my 30s" birthday this weekend and yet here I sit working away (yet again) and completely distracted by the absurdly hook-laden chorus of "Oh Girl". "Because you can if you just take my hand you know that it's true". It's simple, it's probably been done before, blah, blah, blah. It's so insanely good.

I'm not sure that I'll ever be able to walk away from a song like this. In 15 more years, will anything have changed? In 30 years, will I be pulling Medicare benefits whilst blasting out yet another generation of indie/powerpop gems? I dunno. I hope so. I'm not convinced that the alternative is anything worth aspiring to. (Yes, these are the cliche grumblings of an aging man. Go figure. But, dude, it's weird when the clock keeps telling you that you're "moving on" but things still seem the same.)

Cut Off Your Hands - "Oh Girl".
Cut Off Your Hands - "Still Fond".

Myspace

A Century Removed: The Popguns

2007-08-23T23:07:00.000-05:00

(I've always made it a point to focus on posting new music here instead of digging into the past. Well, blogs aside, I've been digging into the past quite a bit lately. Consequently, I'm straying from my overly-purist, self-imposed must-be-new "rule" and offering you Episode 1 of a potential new series highlighting said past digs. It's not-so-cleverly titled "A Century Removed" to keep the ACR acronym fully in play.)

It's common knowledge that both of my brothers could care less about lyrics. I played with both of them in a band for 7+ years and it was never until we recorded something that they had even the slightest clue what any of the words were (in hindsight, perhaps a good thing). I, on the other hand, am a huge sucker for a good/catchy/clever/insightful line. Quality lyrics can't save a crap tune, but they can completely elevate a really good one.

A few weeks back I somehow ran across an old Popguns b-side called "I'm Spoiling Everything" which re-ignited my dormant love for this band. For those not in the know, we're talking early-90's here (bad fashion and all), when they cranked out 4 full-length albums, a grip of great singles, and an amazing compilation (thanks again to the mighty Cherry Red).

For me, the Popguns were the flipside of The Wedding Present, a feminine spin on the same endless stream of indie love songs. "You want to see her, I know you do, you want to laugh about the things that you went through...". And, like the "Weddoes", the words were always top notch.

The songs included here are utter classics for me. The bounce and jangle of "Every Dream". "I think too much and don't laugh enough...". The early-90s-indiepop-big-chorus rush of "Bye Bye Baby". "In the back of a taxi cab... as London whistled by...". And, finally, the "this tune has appeared on at LEAST 100 mix CDs that I've made over the years!" beauty of "Daybreak". "Does your heart still hesitate?".

I know this stuff sounds a bit dated; but, for whatever reason, it owns my stereo again lately. Enjoy.

The Popguns - "I'm Spoiling Everything".
The Popguns - "Every Dream".
The Popguns - "Bye Bye Baby".
The Popguns - "Daybreak".

Website

Friday Night Soulshakers

2007-08-03T17:45:00.000-05:00

It's Friday Night and I need to get out. Yeah, big city, bright lights, action. I'm in the mood. Happy 7 months to the baby and all, but tonight mom and dad are leaving you behind (we love ya man, but someday you'll understand). And if my life were more like a movie wherein I drove fancy cars with good loud stereos, Winehouse would be on the soundtrack. Yet another corker of a new-school soul session here. Enjoy.

Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse - "Valerie".
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - "I'm Ready For Love". (included for the obvious similarities...)

Get Me To The Weekend (Again)...

2007-07-19T18:01:00.001-05:00

Yeah, another one of those weeks. But, it's out of Minnesota (cool place) and back to Austin tonight, likely preceeded by shameless begging at the ticket counter for an exit-row window seat to crash and burn against. But that will likewise be preceeded by this, yet another gift to you, my friends. Here are the definite faves of this sleepless week. Enjoy.

The Answering Machine - "Silent Hotels". This is one of those tunes that lives for the chorus, laying in wait until it pounces on you with a charmingly catchy melody that has trailed me for days. And bonus points for the shouted - "You're Sick!".

Bright Eyes - "Cleanse Song". Our boy Conor seems to be in a very New Age state of mind these days. "On a detox walk through a Glendale park with sidewalk chalk someone wrote in red 'start over'." It's no "The City Has Sex" or "Lover I Don't Have to Love", but, hey, it's cozy; and right now I'll take that.

Wheat - "Little White Dove". A perfectly imperfect one here with the cracked "I'm so in love" sealing the deal for me. "And even if I built a boat and sailed away to sea, you'd be standing here right in front of me".

Dear And The Headlights - "I Just Do". Which brings us to the definite hit of the month. "The feeling's old but it's new to me, I guess". An unabashed love song of gigantic proportions. "I tell all my friends I gotta go, that I need rest, but I'm running for the phone (I think Casey knows)". If you don't love this band yet, then PLEASE explain to me why the hell not. "And calling to say 'hi' on your break, in less than 20 words you made my whole damn day". Seriously, you see what I mean? "At this rate, if you stay with me, you'll go to bed at 23 and wake up 65; oh next to you that would be just fine". And, on that note, I'm stoked to see my wife again tonight. "And, oh, I just love you, oh, I just love you".

About Today

2007-07-17T00:55:00.000-05:00

Bleak. This song is bleak. This dude's situation is over and he knows it.

It's late. I'm up and preparing to leave for Minnesota in a handful of hours. I'm tired and ready for bed. This song has been in my ears about 10 times in the past two hours and I love the desperateness of it. Here is this guy awake in bed trying to talk to his lady. And I feel for the guy. Seriously. But, don't you also think - "Dude, wake her up and save it!". I'm torn like that. I love this stuff in a song, but in reality you need to make things happen a little more. No?

Ahh. I should lighten up. I now get to go crawl into bed with my lady and handsome little man. I guess I can't really feel this guy's pains anymore (if that sounds all cocky, I'm sorry, unintended). Gorgeous song though. Enjoy.

The National - "About Today".

Website | Myspace | Purchase

It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry

2007-07-12T00:15:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know, I've shoved this lot down your throat one too many times already. Well, get used to it, 'cause chances are that we may just be getting started. Especially if James Allan and the Glasvegas crew keep cranking out gems like "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry".

i tally up tonight strangers and stragglers that i've kissed
training ground notches, perfectly executed notches, and near misses
it's all about going out and getting pissed with eagle eyes
and sincerity bottom of my list
what's the story morning glory?
i feel so low and worthless

A beautiful tale of regret, regret, and more regret, yet set to that classic redemptive vibe. Enjoy.

Glasvegas - "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry".
Glasvegas - "Daddy's Gone (Reverb Mix)".
Glasvegas - "Colin The Copper".

(Note: These tunes have some "language". I'll probably regret posting them (as I do), so be forewarned.)

Website | Myspace

Shout Out Louds

2007-06-13T16:55:00.000-05:00

I remember (yes, I'm old) buying the import 12" single version of The Cure's "In Between Days" back when it came out in 1985. If I was forced to list my all-time 100 favorite songs, "In Between Days" would be very close to the top. It's perfect.

Back in 1985, I never expected a Swedish indie group to dig up Robert Smith's perfect pop moment and cycle it back for the 2007 crowd. Which isn't to say that the Shout Out Louds' "Tonight I Have To Leave It" is a rip-off. It's not. Heavily influenced, yes, but "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" (or so they say).

Seeing as there are not any current acts around that can dish out pop perfection and goth destruction on the same CD and still sell it in extreme quantities (like the Cure did for nearly two decades), I'm happy to have the Shout Out Louds attempt to fill old Robert's massive shoes. "Tonight I Have To Leave It" is the constant repeat song of the week around these parts. It's brilliant. Perfect pop. Though, I must admit, it just makes me want to see The Cure in concert once more before I die...

Shout Out Louds - "Tonight I Have To Leave It". Video.
Shout Out Louds - "Tonight I Have To Leave It (Kleerup Remix)".
Shout Out Louds - "Time Left For Love".

Website | Myspace | Purchase

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 9

2007-06-12T23:04:00.000-05:00

I meant to post this weeks ago. Life has been hectic. Hectic but good. Enjoy.

01. New Ruins - "Book Lung". One of those songs where the music (haunting) mimics the lyrics ("Your ghost still walks all around these hills..."). | Myspace | Purchase

02. Eastern Conference Champions - "The Box". Reminds me of the anthemic moments of Hope of the States, but better. "And I've got nothing to complain about..." | Website | Myspace

03. The Tacticians - "London's Alright". Yet another love song to London. Impossibly catchy when the drums kick in. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

04. The Films - "Black Shoes". The first of many 'rockers!' in this set. Noisy and catchy and there's a part of me that never stops craving those two words in conjunction. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

05. Idlewild - "In Competition For The Worst Time". Hated it at first. Now that chorus owns me. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

06. Meg Baird - "Do What You Gotta Do". "So come on back and see me when you can..." | Website | Myspace | Purchase

07. Asobi Seksu - "New Years". One of those occasional neo-shoegaze gems that hit. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

08. Chemic - "Calm Killers". Dark horse treat here with a great late-90s indie groove that drops into an after-hours spent acoustic outro. | Myspace

09. Ferraby Lionheart - "Vermont Avenue". Ahh, yes, the eccentric genius of Mr. Lionheart. Advance peak from this forthcoming debut LP here. Can't wait for it. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

10. Bellavista - "Temptation On Your Side". "Psychbeat" SF-freaks here. Genius if for no other reason than the reverb-laden shout of "I just wanted to hang out with you!" | Website | Myspace

11. The Shys - "Never Gonna Die". From LA apparently. Another good solid rocker! | Myspace | Purchase

12. Holly Palmer - "I Want You". I don't have a clue what her deal is (she looks a bit 'over the top'), but I love the yearn of this song. Awesome subtle arrangement and instrumentation. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

13. Kubichek! - "Start As We Meant To". Great slow-burn lighters-up closer here. Like a UK Explosions with vocals. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

Get Me To The Weekend...

2007-05-17T16:33:00.000-05:00

Stressful times around these parts (if my increased food consumption today is any indication). Blame it on the job. It's all quite good when I regain any semblance of context, it's just that all those rat-race cliches ring a touch true sometimes. So here's what's pushing me through today...

The Cribs - "Girls Like Mystery". Man, if it weren't for The Wombats & The Cribs, the world would be a far more serious place (ugh). "There's not much to say for me / that's OK you know that girls like mystery". You know those guys that girls would always call "mysterious", but that you actually knew and the truth was that they just didn't talk (apparently silence = mystery)? Maybe I'm just bitter, but those dudes were always lame. They knew how to get the women though. Hats off to that I suppose.

Arctic Monkeys - "Flourescent Adolescent". The catchiest song from their new one and insanely good lyrics to boot. An interesting take on "settling down" ("landed in a very common crisis...").

The Mendoza Line - "Aspect of an Old Maid (Alternate Take)". This is the best Dylan song (not really, but you know) released in the (at least) last 30 years. As duets go, almost up there with the brilliance of The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York". An alt-country classic in the making here. "And I know this means so much more to me than it does to you, but meet me back in room 417, we've still got work to do...".

Dear And The Headlights

2007-04-25T09:37:00.000-05:00

I'll put it on the table right from the outset here: These guys remind me of Third Eye Blind. Now, if you've ever taken the time to dig past Third Eye Blind's radio hits (ever heard "The Background"??? Classic lyrics.), you'll know that this is more compliment than insult. Dear and the Headlights have that same late 90s alterna-rock sound. Nothing new at all. Oh well. I've always said - "Either do something new or do something old really really well". These guys are definitely the latter and that's 100% cool with me. But, all that aside, the real genius here is this guy's lyrics and delivery. Classicly trained singer? No. More passion than five seasons of American Idol combined? Hell yeah.

Is there a person alive who hasn't felt like this - "I've got this feeling in my blood that I want more this ain't enough / A girlfriend, a movie, a slow dance and straight teeth / Some candle-lit forced sentiment, I'm bored to tears". Reminds me of about 1/2 the dates I went on in my life.

And the other classic sentiment of "And you, I'm missing you, I don't want to, but I will". There's no more genuine emotion than missing someone. There are people that I like (love even) that I don't necessarily miss. And then there are people that I miss. I think it's the ultimate compliment to be missed. It means you've left your hook in someone.

Enjoy.

Dear and the Headlights - "I'm Bored, You're Amorous".
Dear and the Headlights - "Run in the Front".

Website | Myspace | Purchase

The Prettiest Thing On Saltcoats Beach

2007-04-25T09:22:00.000-05:00

I first mentioned these geniuses and this genius of a song nearly nine months ago. Now, the band have finally made the tune available for download from their website. It's a love song set on the seaside. Classic. This is honestly my favorite band in the world right now. I can't wait for their debut.

Glasvegas - "The Prettiest Thing On Saltcoats Beach". Website. Myspace.

Other recent obsessions (from sad to happy):
Holly Throsby - "On Longing". One sorely depressed Aussie girl here.
Bloc Party - "I Still Remember" (Lull's Music Box Remix). Brilliant remix of this track.
Lucky Soul - "Lips Are Unhappy". Go get it Pipettes fans.

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 8

2007-03-27T09:44:00.000-05:00

01. Ford And Fitzroy - "The Weatherman's Refrain". It opens with an Explosions In The Sky-esque single-notes guitar riff then launches in with the lyric of the fortnight ("it was filled with B-flats and with F's"). If you don't dig this at first, then let it sink into it. It crawls through my head constantly (and I love those great bass runs). "And when, when he's feeling lonely, he remembers the Weatherman's refrain; he, he says that people only pay attention to you when it rains". | Website | Myspace

02. Cut Off Your Hands - "Expectations". A band from "Down Under" here with that British indie sound that I love. Keep the explosive choruses coming. | Myspace

03. The Wombats - "Kill The Director" (demo). More from The Wombats? Oh yeah. I heard this tune played at SXSW and it sounded huge live. In case you haven't noticed, these guys are amazing. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

04. Delorentoes - "The Basis Of Everything". An Irish band with catchy catchy catchy guitar riffs. | Website | Myspace

05. Get Cape Wear Cape Fly - "One More Time With Feeling". File under "Lighter Songs". This one has some refreshing optimism. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

06. LCD Soundsystem - "North American Scum". In my opinion, sort of a follow-up to "Losing My Edge" here, and yet not half as class as this (make sure you click that) (seriously, go back and click that). But, top notch or not, this is the requisite "walking into a house party" song for this batch. Some beats just make you feel cool (even if you are 10 pounds overweight and fast approaching 40 years old). | Website | Virb | Purchase

07. Amy Winehouse - "Rehab". Yeah, you've probably heard this 88 times already, but it's still scary catchy. Included for this reason: "I'd rather be at home with Ray... cause there's nothing you can teach me that I can't learn from Mister Hathaway". Genius. | Website | Virb | Purchase

08. Susan Tedeschi - "Tired Of My Tears". And, keeping that "neo-soul" (if you will and I don't blame you if you won't) vibe alive, here's an utter classic-in-the-making from what I expected to be some spicy urban girl from Brooklyn. Alas, it's a white girl (pardon the stubborn stereotypes). This is the closest thing to the Northern Soul sound released in the past decade. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

09. Let's Go Sailing - "Sideways". File this one under "Honestly, I had this song queued up for ABD Volume 8 long before Gray's Anatomy got to it first (I swear)". This song is gorgeous. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

10. Dear And The Headlights - "It's Gettin' Easy". And herein lies my personal fave of this set. Of course I'm utterly conflicted here seeing as this is an Arizona band (don't ask, too much baggage), but I LOVE this song. Love it. Moments to notice: at 0:41 when the tambourine comes in; at 1:14 when the high indie voice comes in; at 1:36 when the tension mounts and mounts; at 2:46 when (after establishing his vocal support) the dude cuts loose; at 3:00 when the trumpets soar. Yes, another exquisite lesson in dynamics. Well done, lads. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

11. Zykos - "Autographin' Bibles". Austin does it again. Weird chorus vocals aside, this song is so catchy. | Myspace

12. Frightened Rabbit - "Be Less Rude". I'm so bummed that I missed these Glaswegians at SXSW, but, alas (yes, I'm going to use it twice in one post), there was simply too much going on. If you haven't heard "My Backwards Walk" yet, do yourself a huge favor immediately. "Be Less Rude" pushes a solid Velvetsy drone right into you. "I'm afraid you've been misled, your high horse is in fact a pony". | Website | Myspace | Purchase

13. Priscilla Ahn - "Rain". File under "Lighter Song, part 2". I thought this was mushy garbage at first (yes, even sensitive ole me), but I've since come to frequently find it on repeat. It hits the spot with that "last song of the night" kind of feeling. | Myspace | Purchase

My "Ain't Got No Wristband, So What's Free?" SXSW Diary

2007-03-15T11:33:00.000-05:00

I moved from Huntington Beach CA to Austin TX last year. Although SXSW was not the primary motive behind the move, it's sure turning out to be a nice perk! However, seeing as my wife / kids / day job / mortgage take top priority in my life, I don't have the money for the overpriced wristbands. So, I'm going to document here what I am able to pull off for free (an abundance of $3 sliced pizza aside).
SATURDAY 3/17/07:

My last day of SXSW madness (and at this point, I was tired). My main goals for the day -- Fionn Regan and Ferraby Lionheart.

I started the day at The Mean-Eyed Cat where Mojo magazine was hosting it's annual Bootleg BBQ. Fionn Regan was slated to play at 1PM with The Polyphonice Spree at 12:20 PM. I arrived around noon (unduly paranoid about not getting in). Then we all waited and waited and waited. Finally at about 1:15 PM, they announced that due to power issues with the outside stage, Polyphonic Spree would be postponed and Fionn Regan would be playing inside first. So, I quickly headed inside to grab a seat about four feet from the stage. Fionn Regan played a very short (about five songs) set, but it was amazing. I honestly love his CD. Highlight of the set was probably "Hey Rabbit", though he gave me a newfound appreciation of "Snowy Atlas Mountains". I could have listened for another hour. However, with set-times already being garbled, he was cut off early. Back outside, I waited for about five minutes and then realized that The Polyphonic Spree were not happening anytime soon. Oh, well, I'm not a fan anyway.

Back in the car and heading east, I ran into the first real bit of traffic yet (The Mean-Eyed Cat is located out of the way from the rest of SXSW). I eventually found my typical (and free) parking spot south of Cesar Chavez and hurried about seven blocks north to Habana for the NY2LON showcase featuring Ferraby Lionheart.

I was greeted by an RSVP line about 50 people deep, so I took it easy and listened to DataRock on the outside stage. Once inside, I rushed to the inside stage where Ferraby Lionheart was slated to play. Asking around, I was informed that he had played earlier. Argh. Last chance to see him now gone. Oh, well. Note: SXSW set times do not run like German train schedules.

Starting up on the outside stage was Thunderbirds Are Now!. Emo-ness aside, they were pretty decent. I left just before the end of their set and went across the street to the Habana annex. Scanning the band list for the day, I realized that I'd missed Winterkids earlier. I had no idea they were even playing. I strolled outside and checked out the last few tunes from The Silent Years (boring). Back inside (with about 12 other people), I listened to Canadian Peter Elkas's "I wish I was Jeff Buckley playing 'Axis Bold As Love'-era Hendrix on an acoustic guitar" set. Decent, but not overwhelming. I split after a few tunes.

I strolled up to Emo's to check their day party list (with a faint hope of seeing The Horrors again). Bingo. The Horrors at 3:40 PM (one hour away) in the much-easier-to-get-into-then-Emos-proper outside tent. One hour to burn before waiting probably another hour for The Horrors to start. I strolled down 6th street looking for random musical entertainment and good pizza. I was quickly sucked into the Chuggin' Monkey where a band called Machine Gun Blues from Colorado (never heard of them) was blazing away. These guys were HEAVY. Fu Manchu meets Black Sabbath toned down an octave. The singer was a freakshow. I was into it. The only issue: When the singer took to the floor like a crazed Iggy Pop, about 15 of the 20 people in attendance started taking pictures. Man, sometimes it seems like we're more worried about documenting the moment than enjoying it (I'm guilty sometimes as well). That's kind of a bummer.

Back onto Sixth Street, I found some good pizza and headed back to the Emo's tent. I arrived at around 3:20 PM to a huge line. At about 3:30 PM (ten minutes before the stated set-time), The Horrors took to the stage playing a swampy Birthday Party-like intro. By 3:40 PM, I was in (missing "Count In Fives"). There was a nice crowd this time, with a mini-pit towards the front. All of the hits were played ("Sheena", "Gloves", "Crawdaddy Simone", etc) and the show was amazing. I'm so sold on these guys. Mid-way through the set, the singer entered the crowd (one of many times), went to the back of the tent and dragged a wooden palette to the center of the crowd, where he stood and surveyed his kingdom all crazed and deranged. Meanwhile the musical chaos continued, eventually simmering out with "Crawdaddy Simone".

After this, I was SXSW-ed out and figured I'd end on a high note. I'd love to have hit the Bella Union showcase that night (My Latest Novel, Fionn Regan, etc), but it was time to return to reality. I love Austin and SXSW.

FRIDAY 3/16/07:

For the second straight day, I wrapped up work early and (given my wife's blessing) headed downtown. The goal of the day was simple -- THE HORRORS! I arrived (way too) early at La Zona Rosa for the free afternoon show featuring Mando Diao, The Cinematics, The Horrors, and The Bravery. About 30 minutes after my arrival, Mando Diao took the stage adorned in the typical tight blackness you'd expect from a mod-worshipping Swedish band (wait, no white shoes?!?!?). The set was pretty good, but they've always been "close, but no cigar" for me. However, they were 10X more fashionable then the other million satorially misinformed bands that plagued SXSW. The Cinematics were next, from Glasgow Scotland. What they lacked in talent, they definitely made up for in earnestness as they strummed through their Franz/Muse/Pulp obsessions. "Keep Forgetting" has a catchy chorus, but I was predominantly bored besides that.

Now, the moment I'd waited for was set to arrive. Yes, my teenage girl obsession that is the Horrors. They took the stage (as you'd expect) under a shroud of darkness and in full character. While the opening strains of "Count In Fives" pounded away, the singer kneeled dementedly at the back of the stage as if he needed to slowly convulse his way towards the front. Strangely, he was opening a pair of the free earplugs being given away at the show, and, when opened, ran to the front of the stage, reached into the crowd and shoved them into the ears of the guy front row center. Odd and entertaining. "Count In Fives" was brilliant. This quickly transitioned into "Death At The Chapel" and then "She Is The New Thing". Surprisingly, next up was "Sheena Is A Parasite". This song is a complete no-lighters-required anthem and they completely blew it apart. For such young guys, they have a tight grasp on loosely-hinged chaos.

Unfortunately, after that, the band left the stage, while the singer was barely just crawling out of the audience (he was EVERYWHERE). He started screaming "where's the band? where's the band?" and seemed distraught. He looked to stage left, threw his microphone down and stormed off stage. It all looked very odd and at first seemed like the kind of petulance you'd expect from a band like The Horrors (like they'd already let their success get to their egos). This however, was not the case (keep reading).

Notes about The Horrors:
1. That keyboard player -- the 60s-bowl-fringed Rhys "Spider" Webb -- is awesome (his myspace page transcribes The Velvet Underground's strange story "The Gift"). He spends the set about 10% focused on his Vox organ (doesn't miss a note) and 90% focused on his ghoulish century-old silent movies-styled dancing. Imagine a worker at Disneyland's Haunted House that had actually taken on the spirits contained therein. He's brilliant (and the mastermind behind the London club Junk where The Horrors got their start) and seems set to personally inform the world about all of those lost and deranged 60s psych 45s (just like The Cramps exhumed the garage ones).
2. This stuff doesn't come for free. These guys (or at least some of them) have done their research. The guitar player, Joshua Von Grimm, has a degree in Physics from University College London and builds his own guitar pedals. And, again, Spider Webb has an encyclopedic knowledge of the very music he aims to recreate.

After The Horrors, I wasn't in the mood for the inevitable letdown that would be The Bravery, so I took off and ventured across town in search of further entertainment. I waltzed into the free Yep Roc bbq/showcase over at Habana's annex and took in a few tunes from Apples In Stereo. I've never loved their AM 70s radio sounds, so I took off and ended up in the Emo's outside tent where I checked out Alexi Murdoch. He's completely derivative of Nick Drake and yet I (at least partially) enjoy it. His tunes are very Grey's Anatomy soundtrack and would sound better with more of a visual front-end like that. Good though.

By this point, I was tired and also needed to get home, so I walked west back to my car. On the way, at the corner of Congress/Sixth, I saw The Horrors singer and, in shock, said "Hey, aren't you the dude from The Horrors?" (he must wear a wig on stage because his hair looks completely different in person). He was really nice and stopped to chat for a bit. Apparently, the show had been cut off by the club's stage manager because the singer had been jumping into the crowd, pushing over cameramen, tearing down the side curtain, etc. Mind you - this "showcase" had about 100 people at it and seemed more like a set-up to film something for later promotion. I guess The Horrors had ruined some of these ambitions. The gig was financed by LA Weekly / IFC / and about ten other "alternative" media outlets that had carefully calculated this entire thing out. Apparently, The Horrors weren't supposed to shove the cameras out of their faces. So, the short set wasn't their fault at all. They were planning on playing on and doing "Gloves", "Crawdaddy Simone" and "Jack The Ripper". Bummer. Anyway, nice guy. With that, I headed happily home.

Within a couple of hours, my wife and I were back downtown with another couple. We went out to eat at a Sports Bar to watch what turned out to be UT's lone March Madness 2007 victory (R.I.P. Kevin Durrant) and then we went walking about (fortunately our niece was kind each to watch our little man -- first time we've left him!). Nothing of interest was happening that was free (tons of interest if you had one of those wristbands...), so we ended up at Stubbs again. Within about three minutes of getting there (and standing in our now standard spot on the street behind the stage), we saw Perry Farrell jump out of his hired car and walk into Stubbs' backstage. He looked about a foot taller than normal thanks to some silver space boots. We could see him for about 10 minutes while he waited for soundcheck to end and his band to begin. Then, just seconds before his new band (Perry Farrell's Satellite Party) took the stage, Perry walked outside and relieved himself on the wall about six feet in front of us. It was hilarious. Unfortunately, his new band is even more hilarious, sounding like countless bar bands you could find on any given night in Milwaukee. Terrible. So, we wrapped it up and headed home to our little man.

THURSDAY 3/15/07:

Day two started at about 1:30 PM after I wrapped up some work details and headed south to downtown Austin. Unfortunately, my first lead (some of the day party information is tough to come by) went awry. I was looking to see Ferraby Lionheart at a venue called Hank Sinatra's, which ended up being, literally, Hank Sinatra's house. The house (and party put on by +1 music) was located in an old residential neighborhood in SE Austin (50+ year-old Texan homes). The house had a detached garage, so I walked between the garage and house to access the backyard party, which was very underwhelming (20 people tops). The highlight for me was the huge 'weird stuff you'll find in Texas' backyard dropping off into trees and complete with three chicken coups and a lazy goat. Imagine weirdness and it was here. A makeshift (and pretty decent) stage sat towards the back while an awesome free Texas BBQ set-up was at the front. I quickly realized (courtesy of Hank himself and then some guy from Trainwreck Riders) that nobody at this party had ever heard of Ferraby Lionheart. Great, SXSW misinformation. So, I settled into some tasty brisket, sausage and chips, had a chat with the resident "bbq chef" (very nice old woman in an Iggy Pop shirt) and took in a few tunes from some undisclosed Swedish guitar/drums duo that (though they'd probably totally deny it) was heavily derative of The White Stripes. Once the belly was full, I took my leave.

Next on the list was the Cream Vintage parking lot party off Guadalupe across the street from UT. I arrived at about 3:30 PM and noticed that things were hopelessly late (go figure) with an NYC "Lou Reed unable to decide between Indie and Alt-Country" band called Hymns just sound-checking up. I took in a few of their songs then walked the street scouring for food. This walk south led me into Urban Outfitters where more free music was on display. I waltzed in and took in the last few tunes from Beach House (criminally overrated). I couldn't get into them at all, but noticed that Au Revoir Simone were next up. So, at this point, it became a back-and-forth between Cream Vintage and Urban Outfitters. Back at Cream, an Austin band called Pompeii were taking the stage. Decent, if not original, they obviously keep their Muse discs accessible at all times.

Back to Urban Outfitters, and I waited for Au Revoir Simone to sound-check (always painful) and fire things up. The 'three girls from Brooklyn who love Stereolab and Broadcast' sounded pretty good. Their slow-to-mid-tempo set didn't match the first 80+ degree day we've had in months, but the melancholy undertones were solid. "Sad Song" was my fave. Back to Cream Vintage, and it was time for Mezzanine Owls (the entire reason I'd come to this part of town). Daylight and parking lot aside, these guys played a great show. "Wake Up" sounded awesome, as did "Lightbulb" (top 10 of the past few years).

After Mezzanine Owls, I raced back downtown to Stubb's where Fionn Regan was supposed to be doing a 7 PM set. Misinformation chapter 2 on that one. Bummer. So, I cruised around town looking for free shows (after 8 PM, it's all showcases). No such luck. The solid shows had lines down the street and that was if you had a wristband. Oh, well, time to head home and pick-up my wife so she could see some of the action. Went home, chilled with the family for awhile, got the baby to bed, hooked the niece up with babysitting duties, and brought my wife down just in time for the midnight Bloc Party show at Stubbs. Mind you, outside of Stubbs. No chance we were getting in. But, just like with Lily Allen the night before, we were able to stand just behind the stage, on the sidewalk, and hear it perfectly. Bloc Party are so good. They played a perfect blend of the older hits ("Positive Tension", "Blue Light", "This Modern Love", "So Here We Are") and the new songs ("Waiting On The 7:18", "The Prayer", "I Still Remember", "Hunting For Witches"). My wife was into it (bands she will almost kill to see - Bloc Party, Sigur Ros, Explosions In The Sky). I was stoked that she was able to take in some SXSW. We have a two-month-old baby, so I've been lucky myself to see anything. But, as the wife said, "Of course you need to see SXSW, this is what you are into. I'm just happy you don't golf". Love you babe.

Just as Bloc Party were doing their encore, I heard the sinister sounds of The Horrors emerging from across the street at the Red-Eyed Fly. I ran across the street to at least hear the swampy burblings of the revamped "Jack The Ripper". What a tease. After Bloc Party wrapped up, we walked over gazed in the door at The Horrors (decent view actually) and took in "Sheena Was A Parasite". Cartooniness aside, I love The Horrors and their perfect fusion of uptight 60s garage punk and swampy Birthday Party vibes. After enjoying a bit of The Horrors, we walked down Red River and enjoyed a bit of Pelican from Chicago at the outside Emo's tent. I'd never heard them before but they sounded OK. Reminded me of Codeine gone Math Rock. We then strolled through the beautiful madness that is 6th Street and headed back to our happy home and safe kids. Long but fun day.

WEDNESDAY 3/14/07:
Went downtown for the first night of SXSW Music and was generally underwhelmed until I walked by Stubbs and noticed how AWESOME it sounded from outside (it's an open-air theater). I immediately drove home, picked up my sixteen-year old niece and sped back into town for the 11 PM Lily Allen showcase gig. We were only able to see her for a few minutes through the backstage door (which was very cool for my niece), but the sound was amazing as we stood just outside. She sounded perfect as she ran through a short 35-minute set featuring her classics ("Smile", "LDN", etc).

When Lily Allen wrapped up, we headed over to Friends to impatiently await the mighty Wombats (fortunately, my niece is on Spring Break). At about 1:15 AM, The Wombats took the stage and tore it up. We stood just behind them (outside) in the open window (the greatest thing about the Austin music scene), literally three feet from the drummer and guitarist (who ended up chatting with us and dedicating "My First Wedding" to me as apparently the sole married dude in the crowd). "Lost In The Post", "Moving To New York", and "Backfire At The Disco" were all amazing. Not getting home until 2:15 AM was made completely worthwhile by every ("she! was!") "Lost In The Post" chorus.

Mezzanine Owls

2007-03-13T01:00:00.000-05:00

Some bands smack you over the head. Others make you move. Others create huge walls of beautiful noise. And then others just lull you smoothly away.

As was said of The Cramps (for very different reasons), Mezzanine Owls don't pummel, they ooze. These songs are not huge masterpieces, but they are well-written slices of classic shoegaze-lite indie. As much as I don't feel necessarily passionate about them, I do find myself listening on a daily basis lately. And I'm putting them #2 (after The Wombats!) on my SXSW wish-list. Enjoy.

Mezzanine Owls : "Moving Ground".
Mezzanine Owls : "Coyote".
Mezzanine Owls : "Counting Backwards".
Mezzanine Owls : "Lightbulb" (originally offered up here and completely classic).

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Northern Soul : Give It Up For The Girls

2007-03-05T13:10:00.000-06:00

I haven't been listening to as much Northern Soul these days as I used to and what a shame that is. I miss the all-nighters I used to live for back in Los Angeles. I miss the blaring speakers, classic vinyl, and talc-ed up wooden dancefloors. I need to talk my wife into a trip to England that coincidentally lands on a Northern weekender.

Here are three classic girl sounds for the unconverted.

The Sweet Things - "I'm In A World Of Trouble".
The Orlons - "Spinnin' Top".
Cindy Scott - "I Love You Baby".

Voxtrot

2007-03-05T12:53:00.000-06:00

Yeah, I know. This is the epitome of old news. Oh, well. If you haven't listened yet (chance 1, chance 2), then please listen now.

Voxtrot (along with the pure genius of Danny Malone) are the pride of Austin Texas, the perfect amalgam of all things indie from the last 70s to the present (I mean, c'mon, they've covered Felt, New Order, and Comet Gain, of course I'm converted - go here).

Anyway, give these guys a chance. I was a slow convert but a complete one at that. Some of the best dynamics I've heard since that good old first Strokes disc...

Voxtrot - "Raised By Wolves".
Voxtrot - "Wrecking Force".
Voxtrot - "Rise Up In Dirt".

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Monday Mellowness

2007-03-05T12:31:00.000-06:00

Some predominantly mellow tunes here that I've been into lately. Perhaps a lot of what I have recently heard dubbed as "Zach Braff" music (hilarious genre title). Enjoy.

Pela - "Lost To The Lonesome". "Don't just stand there with your face in your hands... clean up your broken glass...".
Rosie Thomas - "Much Farther To Go". "I should just kick my heels together and go home, but I'm not sure where that is anymore...".
Griffin House - "Tell Me A Lie". "Tell me a lie if it's true, have you done all the things I never wanted you to...".
Lewis And Clarke - "Bare Bones And Branches". "You know I will let you in when your bare bones and branches lose their skin...".
Danny Malone - "Town Of Ghosts". "Well I'm a-sittin' on the curb of this dirty street, it's 4 AM and you're sittin' right next to me, holding my arm...". One of the most romantic opening lines ever.

02.09.07

2007-02-09T14:54:00.001-06:00

Alright. Few words. Much music. There are a slew of new releases coming down the pipe lately. Here's a quick round-up (and the most 'typical' music blog entry ever).

BLOC PARTY: "Weekend In The City", their 2nd LP. Buy this now. Here's "Waiting For The 7:18" (removed) and "The Prayer" (removed) and awesome bonus track "Cain Said To Abel" (removed). // BRIGHT EYES: "Four Winds" EP. Buy this now. Here's "Reinvent The Wheel". // KLAXONS: "Myths Of The Near Future". Buy this now. Here's "It's Not Over Yet". // LOW: "Drums And Guns". Buy this now. Here's "Your Poison" and "Murderer". // THE HORRORS: Debut American EP. Buy this now. Here's "Excellent Choice", "Crawdaddy Simone", and "Jack The Ripper". // THE WOMBATS: "Girls, Boys and Marsupials". Buy this now. Here's "Patricia The Stripper". // WINTERKIDS: "Memoirs". Buy this now. Here's "I'm Not Used To You" and "2 Nights 2 Days".

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 7

2007-02-02T08:51:00.000-06:00

01 - The Wombats - "Backfire @ The Disco". The mighty Wombats claim the coveted number one spot yet again. If "Lost In The Post" and "Moving To New York" struck your fancy AT ALL, "Backfire @ The Disco" (great play on "Panic...") delivers in all the same right ways. While the perfection that is The Cribs lies dormant, get your masterfully done catchy-and-quirky-as-hell indie gem fix here. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

02 - Mystery Jets - "Umbrellahead". This one rolls along on a strange piano riff and ends up coming off like a modern-day Syd Barrett. Brilliant verse melody. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

03 - Agent Simple - "Friday". Ever wonder what Calvin Johnson would've sounded like if he could have only stayed in tune? Wonder no more. "Tonight I'm staying here on my own with sour cream and onion..." | Myspace | Purchase

04 - Jamie T - "If You Got The Money". OK. Let me be very clear about one band that I've always hated -- Sublime. Ugh. Yet, I listen to this tune and it's like "uh, Sublime...". So, I own that. BUT... this song is great. What is it about these Brits and their ability to string a catchy ska meets white-boy-rap tune together? The Streets. Lily Allen. Other occasional one-offs. And now here we have Jamie T. If you aren't a believer, here's your not-quite-12-step recovery program. 1. Loosen up. 2. Get yourself in that "I'm going out, it's Friday night" mood. 3. Give yourself even the slightest chance of getting a little action. There you go. See? It all starts to make a ton of sense. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

05 - Mr. Hudson & The Library - "Too Late Too Late". Bit of a strange band here, but that dub bass line is so completely infectious. This would sound LARGE in a club. If I walked into a house party and this was blaring, I'd be so into it. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

06 - Camera Obscura - "Books Written For Girls" (Live Acoustic Version). A perennial favorite around these parts and with ample reason. This is an older tune laid out in an awesome acoustic fashion. I've probably listened to this 50+ times lately. It's an "in the office" standard. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

07 - The Postal Service - "Be Still My Heart". Not sure how I missed this one before, but it's hardly new. Probably some old UK b-side. These guys have it. I'm sure you know that already. Masters of dynamics. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

08 - Winterkids - "Tape It". Man, I'm torn on this one. Watch the video. For all their lame "collar up" lack-of-fashion sense and Albert Hammond Jr. lookalike-ness, this tune has some angles. The words are weak, but that main bassline (think Elefant / Longwave) is awesome (incredible tone to boot). And, this chorus grabs. Too bad about those lyrics... | Website | Myspace | Purchase

09 - Klaxons - "Totem On The Timeline". Klaxons are definitely the top of the "neu rave" (or whatever new genre tag they've been slapped with) pile. They have that post-Bloc Party edginess down pat. And they can write some massive choruses. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

10 - The Knife - "You Make Me Like Charity". Household names these guys. I personally think they are a bit overrated, but this song is pure genius. Perhaps the sexiest slow-build electro number since Portishead lost the plot. | Website | Myspace | Purchase

11 - Like Lions - "Make It Better". Gotta love sub-2:00 acoustic ditties. This one is great. Kids from Philly (or, close enough). | Website | Myspace

12 - The Brother Kite - "I'm Not The Only One". Providence RI product here. Probably some Brown students or graduated hangers-on. Who knows. Regardless, this is a slice of premium Teenage Fanclub inspired pop magic. Hi-hats, harmonies, and shoegazey soaring guitar riffs. Usually works for me. |
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13 - Bright Eyes - "Tourist Trap". As I hope you are aware, Bright Eyes are back. This is a song that's been floated out there for all to take and it's been taken. A masterful Connor country-esque gem. I was actually in Omaha NE two weeks ago and wondering how this whole story ever started... | Website | Myspace | Purchase