Poor Moon- Illusion EP (Sub Pop)
Ignore the FF interaction... Poor Moon's Illusion is a hugely brave, stand-out EP, hauntingly effective, southern rock leaning and eerily beautiful, discovered from their tour currently supporting my album of the year from NC's Lost in The Trees in the USA right now.
For Fans of: Lost in The Trees, Thousands, Simon & Garfunkel, Fleet Foxes
Top Tracks: Illusion, People in her mind, once before, widow.
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Bahamas- Barchords
BAHAMAS
In that wait for the new M Ward album, comes canadian counterpart Bahamas, who manages to bring life to the same style of aged old country soul. Bahama's new album Barchords, diddles with surf rock, blues and a tiny smidge of motown, but most evidently radio pop, winsome tunes with choirs and hooks. The album is often sparse and atmospheric when it should have already gotten going, but the instrumentation is never frought and breezy like the moniker would suggest. 2011's Pink Strat is also "fucking awesome!" TM.
For Fans of: M Ward, Bill Callahan, Ryan Adams et al.
Top Tracks: Lost in The Light, Caught Me Thinking, Overjoyed
I like hats and so does he....
In that wait for the new M Ward album, comes canadian counterpart Bahamas, who manages to bring life to the same style of aged old country soul. Bahama's new album Barchords, diddles with surf rock, blues and a tiny smidge of motown, but most evidently radio pop, winsome tunes with choirs and hooks. The album is often sparse and atmospheric when it should have already gotten going, but the instrumentation is never frought and breezy like the moniker would suggest. 2011's Pink Strat is also "fucking awesome!" TM.
For Fans of: M Ward, Bill Callahan, Ryan Adams et al.
Top Tracks: Lost in The Light, Caught Me Thinking, Overjoyed
I like hats and so does he....
Monday, 12 March 2012
Jake VS The Hipsters
Anyone wanted to see Jake Gyllenhaal go batshit crazy and kill a load of hipsters... well today is your lucky day.
Lost in The Trees- A Church That Fits Our Needs
I first discovered Lost in The Tree's Anti- Debut in the last few months of 2010, a dark little masterpiece dallied with tragedy in a base emotional gut wrenching way... Lost in the trees not only excelled with the beautiful multi-instrumental orchestra melodies but with Ari Picker's band defining knack of storytelling, virtually unchallenged by contemporaries, to create surreal and multi-meaning tales within the grandose. I was most grateful to see them at SXSW last March and the live show more than lived up to expectations. It's been a long wait but after an abandoned visit (subject to the postponement of Magnum's ATP) Lost in the Trees play the lexington tonight and yesterday NPR presented "A Church That Fits Our Needs", the forthcoming new album...
A Church is sadly based around the death of Picker's mother and therefore is undoubtably a very personal but beautiful reflection of her life. Lost in the trees have created a heartbreaking masterpiece which while suceeds for untrained ears being merely lovely, will force any listen to stop where they are doing and completley drench themselves in one of the year's most powerful releases.
Listen now on NPR:
http://www.npr.org/2012/03/11/147982033/first-listen-lost-in-the-trees-a-church-that-fits-our-needs
A Church is sadly based around the death of Picker's mother and therefore is undoubtably a very personal but beautiful reflection of her life. Lost in the trees have created a heartbreaking masterpiece which while suceeds for untrained ears being merely lovely, will force any listen to stop where they are doing and completley drench themselves in one of the year's most powerful releases.
Listen now on NPR:
http://www.npr.org/2012/03/11/147982033/first-listen-lost-in-the-trees-a-church-that-fits-our-needs
Monday, 5 March 2012
A Week in Releases- Monday 5th March 2012
Another week, Another load of albums out of the gate to ring in March.
Album of The Week: Ceremony- Zoo (Matador)
Certainly Matador's signing follow up to Fucked Up, Ceremony's first for the label "Zoo" more than justifies why Ceremony are the best of the (former) Bridge Nine bunch, kicking off with the throbbing riff and pounding drums of album opener "Hysteria" which leads with the guitar attack of the Bronx before they wasted everyone's time being "Mariachi" and is the album's true punk sing along. Zoo is certainly not as genre pushing as Ceremony's masterpiece "Rohnert Park" and Ceremony are certainly beginning to show their rock n roll aspirations over their past incarnation of power violence on the aptly title "violence violence" but it's all apart of the journey. Producer John Goodmanson polishes up the sound in a way that allows it to be both accessible and expansion, but "Zoo" does not lose much of the intensity of the band's back catalogue, it merely develops past the insular sensibility of "Rohnert Park" wearing it's hidden pop aspirations of it's sleeve. A solid introduction to a brand new age.
In other releases... Bruce Springsteen starts to show his age on the quite frankly painfully plodding new album "Wrecking Ball" A Solid opener (the single "We Take Care Of Our Own") leaps into Springsteen's weakest release for a long time, with the white collar "Easy Money" never really ringing anywhere near the social middle american stories Bruce has created in the past. While "Shackled & Drawn" belongs squarely on a white trash Country Music Station... Has Springsteen lost his everyman appeal, well not exactly... but there are several misteps on this record which sound more like a millionare condescending his own audience in the pursuit of saving up for another rainy day. (3)
Proving there's more to Scranton, PA than just Jim Halpert and Dwight Schrute, The Menzinger's third studio album "Oh The Impossible Past" is a welcome signing to the frankly stale Epitaph. A Mid-Tempo Punk Rock Slow Burner which literally glows with melodies and bleeds a timeless love of passionate, dedicated rock n roll delivery. (8)
Album of The Week: Ceremony- Zoo (Matador)
Certainly Matador's signing follow up to Fucked Up, Ceremony's first for the label "Zoo" more than justifies why Ceremony are the best of the (former) Bridge Nine bunch, kicking off with the throbbing riff and pounding drums of album opener "Hysteria" which leads with the guitar attack of the Bronx before they wasted everyone's time being "Mariachi" and is the album's true punk sing along. Zoo is certainly not as genre pushing as Ceremony's masterpiece "Rohnert Park" and Ceremony are certainly beginning to show their rock n roll aspirations over their past incarnation of power violence on the aptly title "violence violence" but it's all apart of the journey. Producer John Goodmanson polishes up the sound in a way that allows it to be both accessible and expansion, but "Zoo" does not lose much of the intensity of the band's back catalogue, it merely develops past the insular sensibility of "Rohnert Park" wearing it's hidden pop aspirations of it's sleeve. A solid introduction to a brand new age.
In other releases... Bruce Springsteen starts to show his age on the quite frankly painfully plodding new album "Wrecking Ball" A Solid opener (the single "We Take Care Of Our Own") leaps into Springsteen's weakest release for a long time, with the white collar "Easy Money" never really ringing anywhere near the social middle american stories Bruce has created in the past. While "Shackled & Drawn" belongs squarely on a white trash Country Music Station... Has Springsteen lost his everyman appeal, well not exactly... but there are several misteps on this record which sound more like a millionare condescending his own audience in the pursuit of saving up for another rainy day. (3)
Proving there's more to Scranton, PA than just Jim Halpert and Dwight Schrute, The Menzinger's third studio album "Oh The Impossible Past" is a welcome signing to the frankly stale Epitaph. A Mid-Tempo Punk Rock Slow Burner which literally glows with melodies and bleeds a timeless love of passionate, dedicated rock n roll delivery. (8)
Monday, 16 January 2012
Nada Surf- The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy (City Slang)
It's easy to be brutal and hate when you can be a complete fanboy about other bands and I've been in Love with Nada Surf since 2000. Fresh from the instore this evening at Rough Trade East, that love has grown even bigger, naturally. Nada Surf played a 50 minute set with songs from the new album, Goodmanson produced Lucky, personal favourite The Weight is A Gift and my freshman experience with them Let Go. ("Happy Kid" was my first encounter)
While never a massive band in this country, the american three-piece write poppy, anthemic pop songs which never disappoint... and their new album, released next week in the UK, once again demostrates their ability to craft an excellent melody out of the ether. Now on their 7th album into a TWENTY YEAR CAREER, tonight's instore was possibly one of the best stripped down sets I have ever seen... (big words but warranted)
It's currently streaming on the always reliable NPR First Listen and is released on City Slang on Monday. Welcome Back Nada Surf!
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/15/144962428/first-listen-nada-surf-the-stars-are-indifferent-to-astronomy?ps=mh_fl
While never a massive band in this country, the american three-piece write poppy, anthemic pop songs which never disappoint... and their new album, released next week in the UK, once again demostrates their ability to craft an excellent melody out of the ether. Now on their 7th album into a TWENTY YEAR CAREER, tonight's instore was possibly one of the best stripped down sets I have ever seen... (big words but warranted)
It's currently streaming on the always reliable NPR First Listen and is released on City Slang on Monday. Welcome Back Nada Surf!
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/15/144962428/first-listen-nada-surf-the-stars-are-indifferent-to-astronomy?ps=mh_fl
UPDATED: Sleigh Bells- Comeback Kid
Sleigh Bells' drop the first track from "Reign of Terror" a few weeks ago, and blogs went wild about the new sound (not really "new" at all really) but the most exciting thing about the 2nd track from the new album "Comeback Kid" is how mighty Alexis Krauss' vocals are sounding... (un)holy and beautiful.
Album Drops Mid-February!
These Two are so fucking beautiful... you need to see the video. WOOF WOOF WOOF! (But not with the blonde wig!)
Album Drops Mid-February!
These Two are so fucking beautiful... you need to see the video. WOOF WOOF WOOF! (But not with the blonde wig!)
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