The Walkmen are back at the recording thing again. They’ve apparently recorded 15 songs and might just finish the thing by November. In customary Walkmen style, they’ve been road-testing the new batch of songs. It’s never a good idea to get too excited about these new ones. As we know from past experience, the end products of these new live songs are certainly subject to change. At any rate, big fans over at the Walkmen Forum (accessible through here) are buzzing about the new songs. I believe you can still download their Austin City Limits set (new songs included, of course) in one of those threads. So how exactly are the new songs? See for yourself, but I will say they are over the place. We’ve got something that wouldn’t be exactly out of place on Lisbon tentatively [on the internet, anyway] titled “In The House You Made”. It’s a stripped down, fairly slow one, with a very strong finish! Another is “Love You Love,” which is heavier, but can’t quite say I’m much of a fan of it. Back to the basics with “Southern Heart,” just good ole electric guitar. “I’m Not Your Heartbreaker” is where it’s at. Sounds at first like some quasi-Bows and Arrows shizzle and has one of the catchiest choruses we’ve heard since You & Me. Finally there’s “Radio City,” which is a pretty funny song. It reminds me of The Recoys. Ham’s vocal delivery is as spirited as it was back in the ole ‘garage’ ’98 days… “Song of the Paper Dolls” kind of thing. Well anyway, I look forward to hearing more news come out about this album.
Star Spangled KGB are psychedelic rock n rollers from the Chicago area. The band is Jon, Alex, Thom, and Pat. They’ve just recently released their debut album Life As It Was Pt. 1 & 2. It’s chalk-full of catchy numbers from the Donnie Darko referencing “All Is Well” all the way through to the crunchy, warping psychedelia of “Monkshood.” The production particularly stands out; the album is loud and clear in being dirty. If that makes any sense. You’ll see. Songwriter Jon cites The Brian Jamestown Massacre as an influence in addition to the Mamas and the Papas. and Pixies. It’s hard losing concentration in the great mess of being swept away by the lead guitar riffs and wailing vocals. These young folks have caught my attention and probably wouldn’t mind yours.
Check out the album via Bandcamp: HERE Facebook Page: HERE
The Beets from Queens, the place I call home bi-annually, will be releasing their latest album Let The Poison Out on October 24! Hardly Art puts it out. Second album of the year for the trio! Be sure to listen to the song below:
“Doing As I Do” – LISTEN “Friends of Friends” – LISTEN
If I was a Black Keys fanatic, I might be all GROWLERS RECORDING NEW ALBUM WITH DAN AUERBACH OF THE BLACK KEYS!!! I like me some “10 Am Automatic” from time to time, but we all know the better Black.
Anyway! It’s exciting The Growlers are recording a new one. Hot Tropics ruled. Expect this one too.
Fourteen songs played at random and the results are in:
1. The Hussy - Peace Bro
2. Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe
3. Reigning Sound - If You Can't Give Me Everything
4. Adam Green - Breaking Locks
5. Maine Coons - Uniform Choice
6. The Belles - Melvin
7. Wolf Parade - Call It A Ritual
8. Radiohead - I Want You
9. Aesop Rock - Flashflood
10. The Drones- Minotaur
11. J.C Lodge (Diplo Mix) - Telephone Love
12. Of Montreal - Keep Sending Me Black Fireworks
13. Mando Diao - Blue Lining White Trenchcoat
14. Deerhunter - He Would Have Laughed
Notice the first six songs are tru rock N roll, the next two kind of go together , and the next six after that are quite random. A skeptic might be thinking oh well it was all random BY chance. That is true, but why were the first six tru rock N roll. There has to be a reason.
For those of you who’ve caught Wavves live in the past few weeks, you’ve noticed a new dude playing lead guitar riffs. That man is Alex Gates of Magic Kids, Barbaras, and Boston Chinks fame. So Wavves is one-half Memphis, one-half Cali.
