Caitlin Rose – Shanghai Cigarettes from Caitlin Rose on Vimeo.
I really like Caitlin Rose’s voice, it is really honest and true. She presents her lyrics with confidence and avoids the baby coo warble so many girls feel they need to use these days. The video is honestly nothing too fancy but I think that is appropriate for her style. If you haven’t already sought her out I suggest you spend some time doing so. She is making music that fits easily in the timeless category. If you’re looking for some new country leaning tunes look no further.
[MP3] Sinful Wishing Well
Unsolved Mysteries “You Only Live Once” from Ryan Dickie on Vimeo.
If a bunch of New York hipsters were to make their own version of Fame this music video could easily be a montage. There is a great energy to the video and even more in the song. The Brooklyn duo known as Unsolved Mysteries draw from a variety of inspirations -BMX riding, new wave, being a kid, hip hop, soul- and definitely add their own charm to their music. “You Only Live Once” makes you wish people walked the streets with this level of pep on a regular basis. I fully appreciate their obtuse melodies and the fact that they keep the mood of their album Tragic Trouble light and dancey. I have a new dance-around-the-apartment-like-a-crazy-person anthem.
[MP3] You Only Live Once
The Americans – “Requiem” Featuring Sean Lennon from Jordan Galland on Vimeo.
Not only is this song easy on the ears the video is perfect for a Halloween post. Taking a cue from the macabre movie classic Harold & Maude The Americans -joined by Sean Lennon- play at death in a v. dark and humorous way. There is a ironic feel good tone behind the song’s lyrics and it turns out that goes for most of the American’s work. They are chasing their self title debut with the release of The White EP this February. For this release they’ve called on some muay talented friends like Mr. Lennon and Daniel Merriweather to help push their sound. This is a band to keep an eye on.
[MP3] Diamond
Frightened Rabbit are making another stop in Philly tomorrow, this time at the Starlight Ballroom with Phantom Band as their opener. On the eve of their return I got to pick the brain of their lead singer Scott Hutchinson. It’s no secret that this is one of my favorite bands and this interview further cements their most favorite band status.
TWIAPC: I’ve seen you quite a few times over the years and whether there were twenty people in the audience or a packed house you always deliver your music with such sincerity it is palpable. Does a lot of thought go into your live performance?
Frightened Rabbit_Scott: We certainly consider the parts and movement of the track pretty carefully before we start touring a record. However, when you are actually out there playing, you have to just fly by the seat of your pants and see what happens. It’s exciting. I think that as long as there is a connection with the audience, then you have succeeded – perfection is overrated in live music.
TWIAPC: It feels like you guys have been touring for quite a while now which must be a surreal- awesome, but surreal- way to live. Considering your material draws so heavily from personal experiences, relationships and reflection does life on the road effect what you write about?
FR_S: It does, though I try not to reference it directly as I just don’t feel it’s a subject people want to hear about in our songs. With the last record, a lot of the themes such as isolation and forgetting who you are came from being on the road so much. It’s not necessarily a fun or pleasant way to live all of the time. Don’t get me wrong, I do love it, but it can be incredibly draining.
TWIAPC: You also seem to have a lot of fun with Twitter while passing the days on the road. In particular the new beard sketch for every show which you preview via twitter then sell to the first bidder at the venue. Where did the idea come from and do you guys share the honor of creating them or does that task fall to one person?
FR_S: It’s just me who draws the beards, though the other guys do want a slice of the action, given that I’m raking in a massive $20 each night! I try to look at most things we do from the perspective of being a fan – and if I could own a drawing of a beard made by my favourite band, then I would be pretty happy.
TWIAPC: You have a real knack for turning phrases in your lyrics that evoke a genuine emotional response, often by highlighting the imperfection -delightful and less so- of life. What is your writing process like? Do you all fiddle with the lyrics or let them just happen?
FR_S: I guess the answer to that is: both. The initial spark usually comes from a subconscious phrase that comes out when I’m just singing along to the basis of the track. Then it can be a painstaking process to load each line, and each word, with enough weight to have an impact. However, my favourite songs are the ones that happen quickly, as they are often the most genuine and surprising pieces of work.
TWIAPC:The Winter Of Mixed Drinks deals a lot with solitude and I know Scott created most of the material while sequestered away in a cabin. Does the contrast of celebrating the strength one draws from being ok with being alone by performing in front of large groups ever strike you?
FR_S: I almost see those as two completely separate people. I am still a fairly quiet, reserved chap off stage, but I’ve always been able to flick a switch and be more of a performer when we play. It is definitely a strange contrast, but I never really question it.
TWIAPC: If you guys were to do a full cover album whose material would we likely see you tackling?
FR_S: It would probably be something completely at odds with what we do – maybe like an Aphex Twin covers album, or a Kraftwerk record. It would be more fun than just doing some Bob Dylan songs.
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They’re touring now in support of their newest album Winter Of Mixed Drinks, which if you don’t own you really ought to go out and purchase it immediately.
[MP3] Swim Until You Can’t See Land
The fellas of Pepper Rabbit crossed my path sitting at the bar at Lil’ Frankies last week in New York. I had noticed their name on a bill and heard a few other friends speak of them but when I found myself chatting with them coincidentally I knew I had to check them out. Clearly it was fate for me to find their spectacular music. These arrangements are smart and draw from a diverse array of inspiration; from Bayou funeral processions to Southeast Asian standards. The lyrics were directly inspired by the folks Xander Singh encountered on his travels and fell into place after he had finished the melodies. The interplay is fabulous and fresh. This is the kind of music that gets me excited about the creative minds out there making music. Their album Beauregard comes out today on Kanine records and here is the first single.
[MP3] Babette!
La Sera is the very very fresh side project of Vivian Girls’ Katy Goodman and I happened upon them during CMJ when they dropped by East Village Radio. There isn’t a whole lot to go off of yet since their full album won’t be available until early 2011 but from these early bit there is some definite promise. The echoey surf pop sound of the Vivian Girls is there but in this permutation they are softer and more rounded. La Sera has a more subtle spunk and from what I got of their interview a less agressive charm. This first single should hold you over -as should the 7″ they’re releasing on November 16th- and the infectious arrangements will definitely leave you wanting more.
[MP3] Never Come Around
This year I’ll be working at CMJ but one of the great parts of my job means I’ll be camped out at East Village Radio covering all of the action from there. My sister just sent me this interesting clip of a band whose instruments were stolen but persevered, thanks to their aps. I thought it was a fitting thing for me to share as I pack my bags to head up to the big city.
Posts will probably be a little slow between now and Monday but I’m sure to be gathering lots to write about once I have the time to do so.
After Octopus Project’s phenomenal SXSW spectacular Hexadecagon I was super excited to hear they’d be making a stop in Philly while touring their opus. I was equally curious to see how they’d translate the surround sound audio visual experience they created under that tent in Austin. Turns out they do it quite well.
After taking over the stage their huge set up – moogs, laptops, drum set, multiple guitars, keyboards, theramin etc- the proceeded to take over Kungfu Necktie. What started out as Octopus Project’s usual mesmerizing electronic rock orchestration built into a tremendous amount of energy both musically and physically as the packed audience erupted into wild dancing. The sound they were emitting was intense, in particularly when Yvonne masterfully manipulating the theramin. If you’ve never seen someone work the invisible waves that create the instrument’s music I might suggest you get yourself to an Octopus Project show as he is breathtaking to watch. Even while the delicate high pitches wafted out over the crowd the vigorous guitars and booming bass blew up around it. There is really no way to fully describe the experience but everyone in the room that night felt something charge through them.
While the group played the same video that was multiplied overhead during the original performance was a singular projection over their heads. While admittedly a little less intense it still played a part in the overall experience. As the band’s devoted followers pushed and swayed to their music I moved to the back to take it all in. See the interplay between the very composed band and the fan throbbing in time only served to make it that much more involving. It was an incredible night and I strongly urge you to find a way to catch the Austin group live at some point.
[MP3] Wet Gold (Daytrotter Session)
For the sixth edition of our Strange Sounds mixtape series, Hard Candy were tasked with choosing an artist to put together a mix. Twice monthly, a member of the Strangers In Stereocollective will take the reins and choose a band, DJ or producer to create a mix. Check back November 1st to see who’s next! For now, enjoy The Florrie Mixtape.
Below, Hard Candy and Florrie weigh in on the mix:
Over at Hard Candy we are huge fans of electropop darling Florrie. Every song and remix that she has released (for free on her website) has been a winner! When thinking about who to choose for our mix, we decided that we did not want to go with a DJ, or someone known for their remix work. Instead we wanted to select an artist whose work we appreciated and whose musical sensibilities would be in tune with ours, and who better than Florrie?
Her background with Xenomania, one of the UK’s finest and favorite remix/production teams, coupled with her outstanding solo work, made her the perfect choice to create a mix for our Strange Sounds installment. In this tremendous mix, Florrie manages to seamlessly blend some of Hard Candy’s favorite artists (Annie, Florence And The Machine) with other fabulous tracks both old and new. The Duck Sauce “Barbra Streisand” tune explodes all over the mix (there is something so wrong yet so right about a mix where Babs is the focal point).
Here are ten of my favorite tunes at the moment; some are old, some new, but they all make me wanna dance around like a crazy person with a mean bass player expression on my face. I used Ableton Live to put the mix together. I’ve opened the mix with a song called “No Sex for Ben” by the Rapture. It’s an older track but I love the way they’ve created the beat out of bits of his vocal, and it was the soundtrack of my last trip to New York. It lasted about 24 hours and I played this song a hundred of times! I’ve put some Two Door Cinema Club in there; I’m touring with them at the moment and they are preeetty damn cool. There’s some Annie too. We’ve written together recently and I think she’s awesome.
Two words: Barbra Streisand. I asked my fans what song they would choose for this mix and this Duck Sauce tune was one of the most popular. After a long awaited release it’s finally out this week in the UK and has gotta be heading for number one. It. is. brilliant. I get properly excited when I hear it!. Who next? Ah yes, Monsieur Fred Falke! He’s just done a new track with Burns and I think it’s gonna be BIG (check out the video, it’s tres jolie). I write a lot with Fred and he’s working on my album too…I love him! I won’t give away any more, you’ll have to listen for yourself…enjoy! *BARBRA STREISAND*
The Rapture – No Sex For Ben
Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand
Cee Lo Green – Forget You
Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Garden
Annie – My Love Is Better
Delphic – Doubt
Florence And The Machine – You Got the Love (Jamie xx Rework ft. The xx)
Alex Gaudino – Destination Calabria (ft. Crystal Waters)
Burns and Fred Falke – You Stopped Loving Me
Download the full mix HERE
This concert was one I had been looking forward to for a very long time, while Tu Fawning is great and I always enjoy a Suckers performance it was Menomena that really drew me in. That I got to see them perform material from their new album Mines in the sanctuary of a church made it pretty much the ideal concert experience.
Tu Fawning has a fantastic new album Heart On Hold out this year. It is dense and layered and definitely caught my attention when it crossed my path a while back so I very curious to see how it translated live. For the most part the layers were just as alluring as they were on the record. There were five bodies moving around the stage playing instruments both traditional and homemade; it was clear that the group is very interested in noise and its potential. They presented their material in a very deliberate and stately manner that contributed to a very large sound. The only caveat I had with their performance was the blatant use of a drum machine. During the start of one song it played for a little over a minute while all five people were doing nothing on stage. This was follow by a string of three songs that bled into each other, not so much organically but at the urging of the prerecorded beats. It was very awkward to see such an unnatural rhythm to the performance. These are the kinks young bands work through and considering Tu Fawning is still fresh I expect them to sort it out.
[MP3] The Felt Sense
Seeing Suckers again, was a lot like seeing them for the first times since every previous performance I had caught was mostly in passing at SXSW so I wasn’t really able to sit back and take in the wonder that is their live performance. What may play as somewhat above par psych rock when recorded explodes into a raw burst of emotion and energy care of lead mad Quinn Walker who is the ring leader of this quartet. There isn’t a single moment that isn’t totally alive with intense drumming, complex percussion or fabulously approchable vocals.
I had never seen a sampler played with more deliberation, as each new sound was emitted there with this look of total pleasure that crossed their faces. It is enthralling to watch and even more so to hear. All four musicians played numerous instruments during the set, the drummer even rock the drums and a keyboard in a feat that even now boggles my own sense of coordination. The level of each person’s musical expertise was clear in that they are able to play as though they’ve thrown out all inhibition but still sound incredibly tight. They proved to be the perfect lead into Menomena’s set.
[MP3] It Gets Your Body Movin
From the bass that swelled up and made you feel all warm inside to the attention to small details – like a jazzy piano riff right where you wouldn’t expect it, but where it makes total sense once you hear it, or the subtle urgency created by the slide guitar- I don’t know which element of Menomena’s performance was my favorite it. The whole hourlong set was awash with the same degree on intention that drive their album Mines. The vocals were effortless but spot on building lush harmonies at their meatiest curves and a haunting sparseness when thinned out. In the sanctuary of the church every sonic element claimed it’s own spectacular presence.
The flow of the entire set played out like the soundtrack to a movie. Hearing “Dirty Cartoons’” simple and pleading delivery live, backed by bass that rattled my stomach and the fullness of the heartbeat percussion left me in tears- which I have absolutely no shame in admitting. This was that kind of performance.
“Taos” was another stunning piece, it rocked in the truest sense; percussion flared, guitars raged, pianos kept it all grounded when it reached it fully unleashed peak it was spectacular. There were a few points where I noticed changes in the material, but knowing that Menomena tries to recreate as much of their studio sound live without using backing tracks it all carried authenticity as a show not simply a live play through the album.
This one claims – and most likely will not relinquish – best show of 2010.
[MP3] Wet & Rusting
All black again with two white stripes running across you -or- you and a friend each with your own stripe!
It’s almost too easy, just dress like the person who shows you to your seat in a theater
You’re gonna need three people for this one and each of you will need to dress up like a chick since !!! phonetically is “chick-chick-chick”
Feeling really lazy? Get a white T-shirt and write Barcelona Native on it.
Bunny costumes are nothing new but maintain a frightened look for the entire night and you win.
And if you’re wondering what I’m gonna be for Halloween, well I’m dragging the boyfriend into this one…
Can you figure it out?
Hesta Prynn has been working her way to the top of the pile for a while. She’s got some fantastic ideas, enviable energy and the skills to turn those into some impressive music. She started out with rap group Norther State but recently released a solo EP which “Can We Go Wrong” is the first single. This video was shot in Central Park is ridiculously awesome and hits just the right balance of attitude and simplicity. She’s got a full length in the works so keep your eye on this chica.
[MP3] Can We Go Wrong
The Acorn “Restoration” from the album “No Ghost” from Paper Bag Records on Vimeo.
I have spent a good amount of time with The Acorn’s new album No Ghost this weekend and the more I listen to it the more I’m convinced of two things; first, it was a huge mistake not to see them when they passed through to area a few weeks ago and second, that they don’t get nearly enough recognition for their music. This video is a fine display of their creativity and talent and matched the spirit of the track perfectly. Watch then go get No Ghost it’s the ideal fall album.
[MP3] The Restoration
In every place that I’ve considered home Bob Gruen’s photo of John Lennon has hung in the kitchen. In the pictures of my first birthday you can see him just behind my frosting covered face, when I moved into my first apartment my mom showed up with a framed copy for me to hang in my kitchen and in every home since he has been the first piece of art to be hung. My mom kept John as a central image because she believed so strongly in politics and ideals he espoused in his lyrics and public endeavors. She used his words -the lyrics to Imagine were also framed and hung in the entry way of our home – and actions to teach us about political activism and peaceful living and by carrying on the tradition of placing Lennon’s photo in hub of my home I am reminded daily of the importance of standing up for what you believe in and engaging in the events and community surrounding you.
Today would have been Lennon’s 70th birthday and while he may not be around his word will live on forever.
Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday youll join us
And the world will live as one