The verdict has not been reached on whether Tomboy will top Person Pitch, but that Person Pitch album is a keeper. From the Tomboy singles, it’s not looking as though that LP will be as awesome, but it’s hard to gauge that kind of thing from a mere three singles. Anyway, here’s “Bros” (off of Person Pitch):
Category Archives: Music
NEW WAVVES!: “TV LUV SONG”
I’m going to give this a 7/8, out of all the new songs Wavves have been conjuring up for us recently, this ditty is definitely one of the better ones. I really dig the “Post Acid” esque production: heavy percussion, loud guitars, prominent-poppy vocals, etc. Lyrically, we see the same themes of laziness and overall apathy that often appear in Wavves’ tunes. This track is certainly catchy, but doesn’t reach the emotional level of a “So Bored,” or the innovation of a “Linus Spacehead.” With that being said, it looks like they are moving in a positive direction and this is a step forward from King of the Beach, which admittedly is a hard record to top. In the end, there are no surprises here, but it’s also not a carbon copy of previous Wavves songs. Fans will most likely enjoy this, I did.
Concert Review: Hurricanes Of Love, Ladderlegs, Sinbusters, Human Tail, Thick Shakes @ Dirty Douglas (2/12/11)
Thick Shakes
Artists: The Human Tail, Thick Shakes, The Sinbusters, Ladderlegs, Hurricanes Of Love, Gangsta Love
Date: Saturday, February 12, 2011
Venue Dirty Douglas (Lowell, MA)
Comments: This was my first time at the Dirty Douglas, a DIY venue in Lowell, and from the looks of it there’s a pretty rad scene going on in this Heavenly city, as Frank- singer/guitarist for Hurricanes of Love would put it. Good old Frank is from Atlanta, GA and is well-acquainted with our tru gangsta home boys, The Black Lips! Frank and his saw playing bandmate put on a nice, warm folksy-bluesy set that didn’t blow me away, but was still solid. I also really dug Frank’s rastafarian esque interludes in which he always made it a point to thank his Heavenly brothers and sisters. The rest of the evening consisted of various Punk and/or potentially Garage acts. The Human Tail delivered a fast, rockin’ performance and I could easily see them appearing on a small, national label in the vain of Burger or Goner someday. The Thick Shakes bore a similar aesthetic and certainly rocked just as hard, but with a little bit more of a pop element. Speaking of “Garage” influence, Thick Shakes certainly displayed it more than any other band on the roster. Even on their myspace page they descirbe themselves as “Garage” and if their raw, 60s Hard Rock sound didn’t convince you enough just a glance at their influences: The Kingsmen, The Sonics, and In the Red greats, Thee Oh Sees (according to their myspace page) should be enough to end the debate. I suppose for these reasons TS stood out the most to me. The Sinbusters and Ladderlegs rounded out the show, each continuing the trend of heavier, energetic, Garage oriented Punk. Sinbusters actually reminded me of Thick Shakes’ faves, Thee Ohh Sees, especially listening to them now on myspace. Ladderlegs also contains an undeniable savage and certainly strange quality and reminds me of earlier hardcore punk, but a bit more experimental and also some early Reatards vibes, but much more fleshed out and musical. Overall, the sound was top notch for all of the bands, thanks in part to the venue’s audio, I assume. I can’t say my mind was blown by any of the artists, but I did enjoy myself and this show introduced me to several talented, garagey bands that I had never heard of before. Each artist was decent in their own right, so I can’t complain.
The following is a list of the bands and their myspace pages or websites. Check em’ out!
The Human Tail
http://www.myspace.com/thehumantail
Thick Shakes
http://www.myspace.com/thickshakesmusic
The Sinbusters
http://thesinbusters.bandcamp.com/
Ladderlegs
http://ladderlegs.bandcamp.com/
Hurricanes of Love
http://www.myspace.com/hurricanesoflove
Arcade Fire Wins Grammy…
Yes, Arcade Fire, a band on an independent label (Merge) won the award for Album of the Year (The Suburbs) at last night’s Grammy Award Ceremony. My thoughts? People on both sides of the fence are making a much bigger deal out of this. Maybe it’s just my perspective as a fan of mostly underground music, to one degree or another, but I don’t see Arcade Fire as being an “unknown” band by any means. So, I find it hilarious the way people are complaining about this obscure band winning Album of the Year instead of their ultra mainstream favorites, i.e. Eminem or Lady Gaga. What is the implication? That music somehow needs to reach a certain level of popularity to warrant acclaim or be valued as fine art and/or entertainment. If that’s your point of view, fine, to each his own. But, for me that’s insane! And to the folks that see Arcade’s win as some sort of “victory,” I have to disagree. I guess it’s cool in a way to see one of my favorite bands and a high quality one at that appear in a mainstream setting on such a grand scale. With that being said, I doubt, especially in this modern age of the internet where exposure to “random” bands is infinitely at one’s hands, a kid or two out there will see Arcade on their TV set and think “wow, what a cool band I’m going to start listening to them now and broaden my musical tastes.” Who knows? Maybe I’m wrong and that has or will occur. But, what is more realistic is AF fan boys and girls getting excited that one of their indie faves won an award at the Grammys and vice versa a bunch of mainstreamers infuriated, perhaps shocked tha their commerical faves did not win… and the majority not giving a flying fuck either way. In short, this changes nothing about how I view Arcade Fire or music as a whole and frankly I don’t think it should for anyone else, but obviously that’s not for me to decide. What do you guys think? Here is a site displaying the obnoxious, yet hilarious! comments of the mainstream, AF haters-
P.S. a special thanks to the Grammys for remembering the life and work of the late, great Jay Reatard…….
Thee King of Limbs = Radiohead New Album
Cover art and release dates for an LP typically are announced a good two or three months before one can hear the damn thing so finding out about an (extremely popular band) album’s release five days before the actual day itself is pretty much unheard of. Radiohead has done some pretty unheard of things in the past and so here it is, their newest album coming in digital form on Saturday, February 19.
Another SOTD: Fear- I Don’t Care About You
Intense as fuck and yet comical in a way haha.
SOTD: Ty Segall – “The Drag”
Before KLYAM becomes “that site” with six straight days of Ty Segall vids featuring beautiful women…let’s get this one out o the way.
SOTD: Ty Segall – “Girlfriend”
Back In Time: Angry Angles On WFMU
Jay Reatard, Alix Brown, and Ryan Rousseau play a set on WFMU back in 2006 on WFMU. Included in the set is “Blood Visions” and “Nightmares,” both of which were kept around as Jay Reatard solo songs on Blood Visions.
CD Review: Smoke Ring For My Halo [2011]
Band: Kurt Vile
Release: 3/2011
Label: Matador
1. “Baby’s Arms” – A-
2. “Jesus Fever” – A-
3. “Puppet to the Man” – B
4. “On Tour” – B-
5. “Society Is My Friend” – B
6. “Runner Ups” – C+
7. “In My Time” – B+
8. “Peeping Tomboy” – B-
9. “Smoke Ring For My Halo” – B-
10. “Ghost Town” – B
Comments: Vile’s live show (with the Violators) has always been one of noise and layer. On record, however, the childish prodigy has excelled at displaying a softer side that, while layered in realms of noise, is more delicately catchy and intriguing than the in-person experience. Following the KISS [Keep it simple, stupid…not the band] principle that I’ve always been fond of as a fan of music, Vile can really do a lot with a little. Unfortunately, this record is a continuation of a trend I’ve noticed in Vile’s music over the years: lack of differentiation. I don’t really blame him, but just about every song flows and sounds quite similar to the previous/next one. “In My Time,” which was first released as the title track of his 2010 EP of the same name, belongs in the category of Vile’s stronger set of songs. It features a prominent electric guitar and more memorable melody. In the end, this album don’t impress-uh-me much (to quote Shania Twain), but there definitely are some good listens to be enjoyed in the sea of repetition.
Grade: B (84)
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 