May 25, 2011 by Steph
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: Givers,In light,indie rock,Local Natives,pop rock,Sasquatch | Comments Off on Sounds of Sasquatch v.V: GIVERS
May 24, 2011 by Steph
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: Bootleg Theater,Electro-rock,Los Angeles,Sasquatch,White Arrows | Comments Off on Sounds of Sasquatch v.I: White Arrows
May 11, 2011 by Steph
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: Hotel Cafe,Kevin Devine,Morgan Kibby | Comments Off on Kevin Devine at Hotel Cafe
May 10, 2011 by Steph
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
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May 4, 2011 by Steph
:papercutz’s self-description is “adventurous pop music” so on first introduction a few months ago, I knew it was right up my alley. Recently I was approached by a member of the band with this new official remix of Sun Glitters’ “Love Me.” Sun Glitters, of course, has been covered by Pitchfork and Altered Zones.
A toning down of the original track, which itself is quite ambient and mellow, :papercuts has created a remix filled with cinematic lucidity. The remix brings an ethereal quality to the song whose rises and falls are dramatic but not brash. :papercuts definitely brings a new sensibility to the song in a great way.
Maybe Frank and Pooch will agree? ; )
The track is on a 17-track album of Sun Glitters remixes called everything could be remodeled and that’s fine! featuring Teen Daze, Blackbird Blackbird, NIVA, Essay and more (California’s Ufolk Records).
Download “Love Me (:papercuts Remix)” here:
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May 2, 2011 by Steph
Epic Records and Legacy Recordings will release newly restored and expanded deluxe editions of Vs. and Vitalogy, the second and third albums from Pearl Jam that broke all initial U.S. SoundScan records and secured the band’s reputation as a preeminent force in American music. Each be available on CD, LP and digital formats on Monday, March 28th. Vs. and Vitalogy will also be available together, with bonus tracks, in a limited edition collector’s boxed set which will also include a gatefolded double vinyl LP and CD of Live at the Orpheum Theater, Boston, April 12, 1994 as well as an exclusive digital download of the entire concert.
To celebrate, the band will be giving away an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Guitar. To enter, the band wants to see you perform a guitar cover of their song “Animal.” To enter, head to: http://www.totalassault.com/contests/246/id/03469/
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April 28, 2011 by Steph
We’re going big for Cinco de Mayo when The Fling head to home base for The Rumble LA at The Echo with Apex Manor and The New Division.
Long-Beach-bred, The Fling hark back to the glory days of those infamous Laurel Canyon jam sessions of the 70’s with their brand of psych-infused alt-country folk rock. They’re joining us for the entire West Coast run of The Rumble Tour in support of the re-release of When The Madhouses Appear (Dangerbird Records) on May 3rd.
Ross Flournoy has risen from the ashes of The Broken West, with Apex Manor, who dropped their debut, The Year of Magical Drinking (Merge Records) this past January. Resident LA blogger and purveyor of amazing taste Surfing on Steam has already included it in his Best of 2011. Aquarium Drunkard boldly claimed, “It’s going to be a tough race to craft a better pop record this year.” Perfectly-crafted SoCal sun-flecked power pop at it’s very best; this is the chance to catch Apex Manor before they hit the road with Jonny this summer.
Riverside’s THE NEW DIVISION puts a new spin on 80’s styled beats and synths,
à la New Order. The Rookie EP landed them a Forkcast nod from Pitchfork in November. Their single, “Starfield” is a crisp new wave gem that NME called, “a symphonic swath of synths fit for regal ceremony.”
DJ HOLLOW EYED will be spinning between sets.
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158493654214753
Category Features, Live | Tags: Apex Manor,The Fling,The New Division | Comments Off on The Rumble, May 2011
April 27, 2011 by Steph
Some experimental alt rock from the lovely Manchester Orchestra. The taunting chorus of youngsters coupled with the minor keys creates a dark and eerie mood for “Virgins.”
“We build this house with our with our hands / and our time / and our blood.”
Category Features | Tags: Manchester Orchestra,Virgin | Comments Off on Manchester Orchestra’s new track “Virgin”
April 26, 2011 by Steph
Former Philly, now Los-Angeles-based Eastern Conference Champions release their forth full-length Speak-Ahh today. This album is clearly a more developed and well-rounded sound than last year’s Santa Fe EP, yet John Ostrander’s mumbled and passionate wail alongside Melissa Dougherty’s soft backing harmonies is still uniquely ECC. The music rides on heavy drums from Greg Lyons, strong and groovy bass beats from Melissa and noisy chords from Ostrander with a result that is indie rock at it’s core.
For me, it’s track two, “Hell or High Water” that caught my attention. Completely cinematic in it’s subtlety, it struck me while I was driving on the highway during sunset. Its absolute sadness, yet completely beauty is striking, opening with a minimal echoing piano melody, and leading into a weaving dance between drums, piano, and drum machine. Josh sings hopeless lyrics like “All I can say in defense / is may we should have taken the chance / I guess you were right,” leading into an upbeat bridge about numbing with household drugs. The heaviness continues in tracks like the sorrowful “Patience,” and the confident yet sad “Offkilter,” proclaiming “If love is easy, I’ll break your heart.”
“Hell or High Water”
The heaviness isn’t consistent or dragging on Speak-Ahh, with lighter tracks including the passionate and anthemic “Attica” and “Sunshine,” the noisey and groovy “Hurricane,” the bass-heavy chorus-laden “How Long,” dance-inspiring “Bull in the Wild,” and folky “Attica.”
The ten-track full length Speak-Ahh is a polished and well-balanced album, drawing on every emotion and blending them into raw folk-tinged indie rock. It’s bands like Eastern Conference Champions that make the LA music scene so vibrant.
Category Albums | Tags: Eastern Conference Champions,Speak-Ahh | Comments Off on Eastern Conference Champions’ Speak-Ahh
