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Perfect indie rock has hit me again like a pile of feathers in a pillow fight. Really, I get to experience fun like this again?
Throw Me The Statue draws quick comparisons with Bishop Allen: smart, fun indie music that keeps you satisfied both via hooks, bridges and other tools of construction as well as with interesting lyrics. You're bound to have fun but also to be hooked enough to keep listening even when the bells and hand-claps subside.
If you're ready to have fun, Lolita and About to Walk will keep your boots shining proud*.
Finally, a connection between the holy ghost and infectious dance moves has been made. This blows my mind every time. Swedish pop will never die. Preach the gospel!
hmmm... I feel out of the loop. This kinda reminds me of that Metallica documentary that shows how sensitive they all really are. I always thought that Iceland looked more like this:
Hold on to your heartstrings. This is The Shocking Pinks. The brainchild of ex-Brunettes drummer Nick Harte & one of the most promising new-comers to the DFA collective. Maybe even the best New Zealand import since the sweet potato. And YES there name is taken from the John Hughes classic Pretty In Pink. If that disways you [which it shouldn't!], or the fact that the name may yield some pretty unwanted search results, let me assure you all that his self-titled debut is chalk full of tasteful genre-bending sweetness: the sulking guitar layers of a shoegazer epic, the naked honesty of a lo-fi love song, oh & there's real drums? Way to finally champion the "non-electronic" DFA!
(for lack of any other way to describe it) Tragedy never sounded so good.. : >> Shocking Pinks - s/t [stream] >> Shocking Pinks : Singles + Remixes [stream]
Saturday night Santa Cruz witnessed the splendor that is Architecture in Helsinki live. Now, I do really like quite a few songs from AIH, but nothing they've recorded anywhere compares to what they're like live. Their live performances really showcase how talented and fun and personable the group is. Kellie Sutherland is the name of the adorable girl from the group that doned a Koala-bear face sweatshirt (see above) with frosting leggings. If you don't know, she makes me swoon. Before the concert I looked her up personally and found an old girl band of hers called Your Wedding Night. Based on how they don't have a myspace or website or anywhere to get their song other than iTunes, I'm assuming they've split up. (although it doesn't help that they have a really common phrase for a band name that sometimes brings up porn on a search)
The reason I mention this defunct group is that they have a really awesome indie pop song called L-A-C-H-L-A-N that makes me way too excited. It's about this super fly guy named Lachlan and all the girls that fawn over him. If you don't trust me that this song is really fun and cute (duhhhhh), check out one of the stand out lyrics: "That boy he can please us like 4 kinds of cheeses" Uh gahhhH. It actually sounds better when Miss Adorable Girl AU sings it, but hey, I can only do so much with blogger text.
Do yourself a favor and download the hot track via Z-share thanks to yours truly.
In lite of the pagan new-year/halloween, & the fact that Sweden is the source of so much goodness right now, here is probably the best usage of masks by an artist in the past year. [the visual effects. the song. see for yourself!]
Parachute from Shugo Tokumaru's new album Exit. The album dropped in Japan on the 19th with no sign of an American release yet, but if you don't feel like paying import prices keep an eye out for a state side release. Shugo's been busy touring with his other band Gellers (supporting their first album which dropped in Japan in May), making an awesome cover of Peter Bjorn & John's Young Folk's (which you can stream on Pitchfork's Forkcast) and now coming out with a solo folk album and starting touring around Japan for that. Check the mp3s! Shugo Tokumaru - Clocca Gellers - Colorado
This right here is going to be your new favorite thing. Ukelele, whistle, boy-girl vocals, awesomely styled video (you'll get a kick out of their short-shorts ensemble), and the most infectuous cute songs ever. This is Noah and the Whale, your Winter 2007 replacement of Peter Bjorn and John and your newest Magnetic Fields-esque sweet group.
Outside it's fall. The air is getting so blistery at times that even my tolerance from mid-western winters is tested. I'm thinking of taking a lesson from the squirrels and hibernating with a huge stash of nuts and berries. Anyone and everyone should follow my lead!
Among the tunes that warms me up almost as much as apple cider is Will Oldham's ethereal incarnation Bonnie "Prince" Billy. Not only does he find a way to run around the board with every record but he's probably the only known artist whose dominion over songwriting can be traced through a running seven surnames; Matt Sweeney, Will Oldham, Palace Brothers, Palace Music, Palace Songs, Palace.
After riding on some unexpected hype from his recent appearance in R.Kelly's ridiculously entertaining hip-hopera Trapped In The Closet, he'll be releasing Ask Forgiveness on Domino Records under the name Bonnie "Prince" Billy once again. Slated for the a 11/19 release, the record spans a collection of covers that Oldham has crafted with more acoustic eccentricity over the past year or so. Among these tracks are reworkings of Bjork, Danzig, Mary J. Blige and (as credited) Robert Sylvestor Kelly himself. Knowing his uncanny ability to lay out sonic landscapes with unflinching calm and grace leads me to believe that there will be no disappointment!
Other more than notable Will Oldham performances include a lead role in Kelly Reichardt's slow but sure film Old Joy (2006). Though, truthfully, nothing can touch his appearence with Zach Galifianakis in the video for Kanye West's "You Can't Tell Me Nothing", which is far to amazing to describe in words.
