Quantcast

May, 2011

  1. Interview with Sleeper Agent

    May 31, 2011 by A2S

    Sleeper AgentSleeper Agent’s debut album Celabrasion has not stopped spinning since I received it in the mail less than a week ago. It will be out on Mom & Pop on August 16th and they just set out on a tour with Cage the Elephant and Manchester Orchestra. If the above points aren’t enough to tell you that “these guys fucking rock,” then I’ll spell it out for you: their take-no-prisoners high-energy garage rock is only properly experienced at high volume and with repeat listens.

    I was recently given the opportunity to interview Sleeper Agent. No bullshit.

    S: First off, Sleeper Agent is a sextet, which is a pretty large group. How did you all meet? What’s the dynamic like?

    Sleeper Agent: A lot of us have been playing together or watching each other’s bands for years (as far back as 2004). Bands would crumble and I guess we’re the hodgepodge of a scene from yesteryear. Alex, joined in 2010. She’s from Ohio, we met her whilst she was opening for Sleeper Agent’s original lineup in 2008.

    S: Also, you all have nicknames–Tutone, Kidd, Keyser, Grizzlee, Saga, and Junior. How did those come about and do you go by those on a daily basis?

    SA: We don’t take ourselves too seriously and the nicknames have become a way of rib-poking each other (i.e, Alex is by far the youngest [Kidd], Tony plays with no pedals using only a clean or distorted channel [Tutone)]) Depending on our mood, we’ll interchange the real names and nicknames.

    S: You and Cage the Elephant are the only two bands I can think of from Bowling Green, KY. You’ve also toured with them quite a bit. Are you all close?

    SA: Justin, Tony and Scott have been stomping around with those guys since they were in Perfect Confusion. We consider them family.

    S: Are there any other bands in Bowling Green that we should know about?

    SA: Schools ( http://www.reverbnation.com/schools ). They’re on their way up. By far our favorite show to catch on break. We saw them four times on our last break.

    S: Some of my favorite bands have guy/girl duo vocals. When you started the band, was there anyone you were emulating or did you just think “we both have great voices, let’s both sing”? … (more…)

    Category Interviews | Tags: ,,, | 1 Comment

  2. Sounds of Sasquatch: 2011

    May 27, 2011 by A2S

    You have your camping gear, a cell phone charger, and your most hipster set of clothes and you’re ready to hit the Gorge for Sasquatch Festival. What’s left? Winnie Cooper has hooked you up with a Survival Guide and I am happy to provide the tunes for the drive. I’ve decided to include a sampling of almost every artist in attendance (leaving out only those I couldn’t find). Download and preview the sweet acts you’re about to experience. Or, if you can’t make it to Seattle this year, you’ll get a little taste of what you’re missing.

    Remember, these tunes are for a preview only so if you dig the bands, go buy their music. If any of these tracks belong to you and you would like them removed, please let me know.

    SIDE A (click to download)
    !!! – AM FM
    Against Me – I Was a Teenage Anarchist
    Alberta Cross – City Walls
    Aloe Blacc – Green Lights
    The Antlers – French Exit
    Archers of Loaf – Plumb Line
    Basia Bulat – Heart Of My Own
    Bassnectar-Magical World feat. Nelly Furtado
    Beach House – Norway
    Best Coast – Crazy For You
    Biffy Clyro – That Golden Rule
    Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears – Booty City
    Black Mountain – Roller Coaster
    Bonobo – Stay The Same (Feat. Andreya Tria)
    Bright Eyes – Shell Games
    The Bronx – Knifeman
    Chromeo – Hot Mess (Ride The Universe Remix)
    City and Colour – Fragile Bird
    Cold War Kids – Royal Blue
    Cotton Jones – Somehow to Keep It Going (acoustic)

    SIDE B (click to download)
    Dan Mangan – Sold
    Das Racist – hahahaha jk
    Death Cab for Cutie – You Are A Tourist
    Death From Above 1979 – Blood On Our Hands
    The Decemberists – January Hymn
    Deerhunter – Never Stops
    The Drums – Forever and Ever Amen
    Fitz and the Tantrums – Moneygrabber
    The Flaming Lips – Fight Test
    Flogging Molly – Drunken Lullabies
    Flying Lotus – Caravan Of Delight
    Foo Fighters – Best Of You Live at Wembley Stadium
    Foster the People – Warrant
    Gayngs – Faded High
    Givers – Up Up Up
    The Glitch Mob – Fistful Of Silence
    The Globes – Stay Awake
    Gold Panda – Quitters Raga
    Guided By Voices – Metal Mothers
    The Head and the Heart – Lost in My Mind

    SIDE C (click to download)
    Head Like a Kite – Directors Cut
    Iron and Wine – Sodom, South Georgia
    J Mascis – Not Enough
    Jaill – Everyone’s Hip
    Jenny & Johnny – Big Wave
    Local Natives – Sun Hands
    Macklemore – Irish Celebration (Prod Ryan Lewis)
    Mad Rad – The Machine
    Major Lazer – Cash Flow (Classixx Glass-Bottom Dub Mix)
    Mariachi El Bronx  – Cell Mates
    Matt and Kim – Block after Block
    Modest Mouse – Missed The Boat
    The Moondoggies – What Took So Long
    MSTRKRFT – Back in the USSA
    Noah and the Whale – L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
    Old 97s – Every Night Is Friday Night (Without You)
    Other Lives – Tamer Animals
    Pepper Rabbit – Older Brother
    Pink Martini – Tuca Tuca
    The Radio Dept – Never Follow Suit

    SIDE D (click to download)
    Ratatat – Mirando
    Rival Schools – Undercovers On
    Robyn – Call Your Girlfriend (Feed Me Remix)
    Rodrigo Y Gabriela – Tamacun
    S. Carey – In The Stream
    Sam Roberts Band – Longitude
    The Secret Sisters – Tennessee Me
    Sharon Jones – How Long Do I Have to Wait for You
    Sharon Van Etten – Save Yourself
    Skrillex – First of the Year
    Sleigh Bells – Run the Heart
    Smith Westerns – Still New
    Stornoway – Fuel Up
    Surfer Blood – Neighbour Riffs
    Talkdemonic – Shaddered Into Dyes
    The Thermals – I Don’t Believe You
    Tokyo Police Club – Breakneck Speed
    Twin Shadow – At My Heels
    Typhoon – Summer Home
    Washed Out – Eyes Be Closed

    SIDE E (click to download)
    Wavves – Post Acid
    Wheedle’s Groove – Jesus Christ Pose
    White Arrows – The Voyeur
    White Denim – Anvil Everything
    Wilco – I’m the Man Who Loves You
    Wolf Parade – Shine a Light
    Wye Oak – Civilian
    Yeasayer – Devil And The Deed
    The Young Evils – Get Over It
    Young the Giant – My Body

    Missing:
    Bob Mould
    Rebecca Gates and the Consortium
    K-Os

    Download links:
    A: http://www.sendspace.com/file/nca6ob
    B: http://www.sendspace.com/file/l3b1pn
    C: http://www.sendspace.com/file/lxedr3
    D: http://www.sendspace.com/file/a7cmpf
    E: http://www.sendspace.com/file/h1b8c0

    Category Features, MP3s | Tags: | No Comments

  3. Sounds of Sasquatch v.V: GIVERS

    May 25, 2011 by A2S

    I recently reviewed the debut album for Givers, In Light. The Lafayette group is full of pop sensibility translated into reverb-laden indie rock, making them a perfect fit along festival mates Local Natives. They earned their way in the indie rock world by touring with The Dirty Projectors and Ra Ra Riot and their debut LP doesn’t even come out until after Sasquatch (June 7th). If you love some beautiful noise, you shouldn’t miss them in Seattle.

    “Ceiling of Plankton”

    Category Features | Tags: ,,,,, | No Comments

  4. Sounds of Sasquatch v.IV: Sleigh Bells

    by Dave

    Sleigh Bells began with a conversation in a Brazilian restaurant between the guitarist of Poison the Well and the mother of the very talented Alexis Krauss.  In what remains one of my favorite “this is how the band got together” stories, Derek Miller (previously of poison the well) was waiting tables at Miss Favela when he mentioned he was looking for a female vocalist and heard the mother of Alexis Krauss immediately volunteer her daughter.  Sleigh Bell’s sound might be  described by comparing them to another male/female duo “the bird in the bee”.  If you’re familiar, imagine the bird and the bee beating you violently across the face with their music utilizing powerful beats and screeching guitars producing a sound that garnered a lot of media attention very quickly.

    Only a few years into existence and this group is already throwing down performances at festivals like Coachella and Pitchfork receiving rave reviews.  Their set will be short but you will leave it out of breath.

    “Crown on the Ground”

    Category Features | Tags: ,,, | No Comments

  5. Sounds of Sasquatch v.III: Matt and Kim

    by Dave

    Matt and Kim are a truly unique duo holding a place in my mind as the happiest musical act I have ever seen. If you watch them playing live you cant help but move with them, their infectious smiles and absolute genuine appreciation for being able to share their music with you. Their fantastic use of heavy beats and melodic piano riffs will get your feet moving before you even know you’re dancing. “Dynamic” would sell them short, in the video for “lessons learned” they strip down completely naked in Times Square with only a camera and a permit to shoot a mayonnaise commercial in hand. Their performance will leave you smiling no matter what state of mind you entered the experience in.

    Category Features | Tags: ,,,, | 1 Comment

  6. Sounds of Sasquatch v.II: Macklemore X Ryan Lewis

    May 24, 2011 by Dave

    Macklemore is a certain breed of musician, a rare kind of artist that speaks truth.  You won’t feel like he is catering to your tastes when listening to his music, but you will feel him.  You’ll find testaments to this truth in his tracks like “the town” or “white privilege”. These songs are fundamental building blocks to a musical movement fronted by a man that you can’t listen to without hearing something greater than the music.

    When he began working with Ryan Lewis the Vs. EP that they produced was nothing short of brilliant.  It threads together stories of family, addiction, gender roles, and growth through masterful use of samples and Macklemore’s almost breathless delivery of words that again, speak truth.   Featuring artists such as RHCP(otherside), Beirut(Irish Celebration) the Vs. EP will catch your ear and keep you tuned in from start to finish.

    These guys are not to be missed at Sasquatch.

    “The Town”

    Category Features | Tags: ,,,,, | No Comments

  7. Sounds of Sasquatch v.I: White Arrows

    by A2S

    A few weeks ago I was invited out to see White Arrows play at The Bootleg Theater in LA. While neutral about their self-titled EP, I had heard great things about their live show. They did not disappoint. An entrancing set with a completely absorbing light show gave the music a new landscape, defining and rounding out the edges of their reverb-ish electro-rock. As aptly described from their press release, “a joyous burst of kaleidoscopic beats, genre-hopping and psychedelic textures.”

    They’ve become an LA-favorite and I’m excited to see how they’ll craft their live show for the Seattle festival stage. Definitely a band not to be missed.

    “The Voyeur”:

    Category Features | Tags: ,,,, | No Comments

  8. Kevin Devine at Hotel Cafe

    May 11, 2011 by A2S

    image

    Devine is playing his whole new album Between the Concrete and the Clouds at Hotel Cafe tonight and will soon be joined on stage by Morgan Kibby (White Sea, M83). His way with words and a simple riff never ceases to amaze me. So excited for this upcoming release.

    Category Live | Tags: ,, | No Comments

  9. Manchester Orchestra’s album Simple Math

    May 10, 2011 by A2S

    For those of you who haven’t already streamed it in full on the album’s website, this is an album review of Manchester Orchestra’s upcoming album Simple Math, released today.

    If you’ve been wary about Manchester Orchestra’s follow-up to their sensational 2009 album Mean Everything to Nothing, fear not. If you love the band for Andy Hull’s hold-nothing-back emotion-filled vocals, the raging guitar breakdowns, swelling strings, and all-around finely crafted and dynamic style, you will not find this album lacking. For the most part, Simple Math takes the essence of Mean Everything to Nothing, boils it down, and molds it into a new shape on these ten tracks, with a few exceptions.

    The album opens with “Deer.” It begins with minimal electronics leading into a basic guitar melody. The lyrics seem to be autobiographical, apologetic, and despondent. Each verse is about something else falling apart. “I acted like an asshole so I could keep my edge on you”, then “I acted like an asshole so my albums would never burn. I’m hungry now and scraps of dirty dirt.”

    If “Deer” is an apology, “Mighty” is a “fuck you.” A shredding intro and demanding vocals from Hull, “Mighty” comes through kicking and screaming with noisy riffs over a string melody.

    “Pensacola” is the first song of the album that sounds out of character for Manchester Orchestra. The melody intro bears a striking resemblance to a band I grew up with called Melee—incredibly upbeat, almost entirely in a major key, very dynamic, making use of some brass and a shout-chorus, and for the most part is completely optimistic. “I did it all for you.”

    After the completely M.O.-style “April Fool” and “Pale Black Eye” comes the track recently premiered on their Facebook, “Virgins.” The haunting chorus of youngsters coupled with the minor keys creates a dark and eerie mood. “We build this house with our with our hands / and our time / and our blood.” This is certainly one of my favorites on the album.

    The title track of the record, “Simple Math,” is the seductive rock ballad equivalent of an R&B “undress me” song. “Leave It Alone” slows down into a sincere and earnest guitar and orchestral track with the vibe of Mean Everything to Nothing’s “100 Dollars.” “Apprehension “ provides some classic piano-interspersed indie-rock and “Leaky Breaks” closes the album with a quiet sensibility and echoing vocals, letting the album trail off slowly with this 7+ minute track.

    Simple Math has all the ingredients that you could expect from Manchester Orchestra and then some. Mixing up the formula a bit to provide some originality, “Deers” and “Virgins” are probably the most stunning on the record. If you’re a Manchester Orchestra fan, you’ll surely love this album and if you’re not, then maybe these ten tracks can change your mind.

    Pick up Simple Math on Amazon.

    www.themanchesterorchestra.com

    Written For: The Audio Perv

    Category Albums | Tags: | No Comments

Older Entries