speed of dark

The Duke Spirit - photo
As this year's SXSW Festival draws nearer, we'll be bringing you some highlights of a few of the many bands to look out for. Put these bands on your schedule if you're going, or on your radar if you're not.

Delorentos are an impressive group of four young men from Dublin. The band have released a number of EPs and singles since 2005 but debuted their first full-length album, In Love With Detail last April, and followed up with a 4-track EP, Do You Realise in November. The songs make me think of the 80's, a little new wave, fun and energetic. I loved the tracks available on their myspace page, and you can stream more on their official site. See them at SXSW on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

We last saw Oppenheimer in October and really enjoyed this playful band, a duo from Belfast on the Bar/None label. Rocky, Shaun, and their airhorn are currently enjoying the rest of their tour with They Might Be Giants before heading to SXSW on Friday and Saturday, then to L.A. on March 17 at The Viper Room. The band will release their second album, Take the Whole Midrange and Boost It on June 3. See the rest of their tour schedule on their myspace and check out the band's recent set on WOXY.

The Duke Spirit are a five-piece from the UK with a mighty female vocalist and lovely, dreamy songs. The band was featured on "May Day", my favorite track from UNKLE's 2007 release, War Stories. Neptune, their new album, will be released on the Shangri-La label on April 8. Their tour schedule starts with a show at The Echo on March 5, shows at SXSW on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and meanders over the UK and the midwest before concluding at the Isle of Wight Festival in June.

We last saw Johnathan Rice with Ben Gibbard in May, where his acoustic set wooed us with his quiet humor and quirky, heartfelt lyrics. See him at SXSW on Wednesday and check out his myspace to stream songs, see videos, and check out the rest of his tour, which culminates in a residency at Spaceland every Monday in April.

Seattle's J. Tillman will be at SXSW on Thursday. Tillman's album Minor Works was finally released in the US on Undertow in January, and he is working on his new album Vacilando Territory Blues, to be released in 2008. Check out his myspace to see more tour dates and hear more music.

oppenheimer: straight out of comp'in' [buy]
j. tillman: steel on steel [buy]
UNKLE: may day (featuring the duke spirit) [buy]
delorentos: basis of everything [buy]

This band from Columbus, Ohio has been on my myspace friend list for a while, but I noticed that The Nuclear Children's debut album, Wear Black and Come When We Call was released on September 7. Lead vocalist/guitarist/organist Jason Matthew was kind enough to send me a few tracks and some information about the band, which has seen quite a few ups and downs in their short time together. The lineup consists of Jason, accompanied by musicians Matthew Gene (guitar, organ, accordian), Rory Daniel (bass, keyboard), and Nikolei Mario (percussion).

Their debut five-song EP was produced by Jim Diamond, who also produced albums by The White Stripes and Von Bondies. The Nuclear Children have moments which make me think of classic Brit-Pop, and then another moment evokes San Diego band Louis XIV - each song is different. I love the fact that there are not one but two organists in the band and the great video for "Karma Sutra", which was created by a 14 year old. Check out my favorite song from the EP, about an evil groupie girlfriend and their video for "Karma Sutra".

the nuclear children: yoko oh no from Wear Black and Come When We Call [buy]

The Nuclear Children- Karma Sutra


official website | myspace

The Moths!

I first heard about The Moths! when they had won Rock Sellout's Best Unsigned Band contest. This is the U.K. band--be careful because there is a U.S. band by the same name. The U.S. Moths are good too; this just isn't about them.

The Moths started with songwriters James Fox, who writes and sings the lyrics, and Dave Lightfoot, who plays guitar and writes the music and now includes Jonny on drums, James L. on bass, and Asley on synths.. They have a bright and peppy 90's Brit-rock sound that has been compared to the Buzzcocks and Human League and is completely charming.


Those cute little moths on their logo, with their shapely legs and waists, were about the only things on their MySpace page. Now the Moths have a rip-roaring new design, a lot of news, and even a few pictures of the band members. My guess is, at the speed these guys are moving, they will not be unsigned for long.

The Moths!: Tell Me

MySpace | Bebo | Label: unsigned!
Buy at iTunes, and eMusic

Show Schedule:
Sep 9, 2007 - Brick Lane Festival, 93 Feet East, London
Sep 14, 2007 - Mr Fast Lane’s Secret Rock and Roll Salon, 333, London
Sep 15, 2007 - Bloody Awful Poetry, Nambucca, London
Sep 18, 2007 - Kickers Fashion, Marylebone Library, London
Sep 26, 2007 - Islington Academy (supporting IAMX) 14+ show, London



Goldroom



I wrote previously about U.K.'s Goldroom last March, but in the context of unsigned bands, they deserve another mention. I genuinely like everything they do. I often check their MySpace page to find new examples of their deeply-nuanced and myriad-influenced compositions, which carry the sweep and grandeur of movie soundtracks.

"Brighton Rock" is a recent remix of an older song of theirs. Get more at their MySpace page.

Goldroom: Brighton Rock

MySpace | Label: Unsigned!



The King Left



The King Left have a Brit-pop sound, but they are from New York. They have made a couple of "Best Unsigned Band" lists, including the Top 30 unsigned bands in the country, according to the Daily Chorus. The martial beats and discordant, hystrionic lyrics are similar to Arctic Monkeys or Tokyo Police Club.

They'll be playing some dates in New York with Speed of Dark favorites Joseph Arthur and We Are Scientists

The King Left: The Storm In a Teacup
The King Left: I Have To Let You Win

MySpace | Website | Band blog | Label: Unsign ed!
Buy

Show Schedule:
Sep 7, 2007 - Music Hall of Williamsburg w/Joseph Arthur and The Lonely Astronauts and Sounds Under Radio, Brooklyn, NY
Sep 28, 2007 - Baruch College's Mason Hall w/ We Are Scientists and Robbers On High Street, New York, NY
Oct 3, 2007 - Bowery Ballroom w/ Nightmare Of You and Le Loup, New York, NY
Oct 26, 2007 - Maxwell's w/ Film School, Land Of Talk, and Eulogies, Hoboken, NJ
Nov 9, 2007 - Elmira College, MacKenzie’s, Elmira, NY

I missed Finally Friday this week because when it comes to a choice between the grandbaby and the blog, the grandbaby is gonna win every time.

Here are two unsigned shoegaze-type bands that really deserve a label and a place to expand on their repertoires.

The Evening Sounds

Combine all the finest shoegaze you can think of--like Sigur Ros, Mazzy Star, and Slowdive--with a vision of a glowing sunset, and you have an idea of the sound of The Evening Sounds, an unsigned band from U.K.'s Midlands.

Tom Howell, Gary Sheppard, Andrew Kennedy have created lush and serene soundscapes with floods of vocal layers interspersed with simple acoustic guitar. Somebody please pick these guys up so we can have a full album of these warm and heart-soothing hymns.

Two more songs are available for download at their MySpace page.
The Evening Sounds: A New Suggestion
The Evening Sounds: Cellar Track (demo)

MySpace | Label: Unsigned!



Hazelwood Motel


Herman Jolly keeps sending me bulletins about Seattle band Hazelwood Motel, and I'm grateful because I checked them out and really liked their songs. Jolly played drums for the group at one time, and apparently the association continues to be warm.

Band members Ed Vierda, Megan Pickerel, and Patrick Smail play tender, heart-breaking ballads based around quiet piano or guitar, although "Break Myself In Two," which can be streamed on their MySpace page, has a head-bobbing beat to it. I'm really looking forward to hearing more from them. They've been playing some shows in the Seattle area, so if anyone has seen them live write us a comment.

Hazelwood Motel: Released
Hazelwood Motel: Not Enough
MySpace | Label: Unsigned!

Show Schedule:
Sep 18 2007 - Nectar, Seattle, WA
Oct 12 2007 - Mars bar with Half Light, Seattle, WA


From the blogroll:

Contrast Podcast #75 is Musicians with Moustaches. I chose J. Tillman because in most photographs he has both a moustache and beard.

Covers! Aquarium Drunkard has Neil Young's "Cortez the Killer" covered by Built To Spill, and there are more covers by Drive By Truckers and Jason Isbell at Berkeley Place, and even more covers at HaHaMusic's Cover Tuesday.

Can You See the Sunset has a review of the new Pinback album, Autumn of the Seraphs.

School has started, and Marcy at Lost In Your Inbox reminds us that that means it is marching band season. Hey, Indie Mom--remember that? Check out the song "I Used to Play the Euphonium."

Underwater Getdown are a six-member band out of Tempe, Arizona. While their website doesn't provide much information about the band, it is clear that the band members have an excellent sense of humor about themselves, indicated by their bios.

I was able to sample their entire debut album, Supersymmetry and I liked it quite a bit. The combination of Bryan and Audra's vocals with some very smooth, nice music with a kind of fuzziness to it made for an enjoyable album. At 11 tracks, it clocks in at just under 40 minutes, so it's short and sweet and the songs make me wonder what the band sounds like live. As a former band nerd, I get excited when I hear non-traditional instruments in rock songs, and Underwater Getdown features a healthy heaping of french horn. None of the songs sound identical, and one track, "Electric Lights", made me think of the B-52's (in a good way) with a orchestral meltdown accompanied by little yelps. "The New Asthma" is absolutely lovely, featuring mostly tamborine, acoustic guitar, and Bryan at his peak octave.

You can purchase their album on iTunes or purchase directly through their myspace page via PayPal. Check out a couple of great tracks from their album Supersymmetry, and catch them live if you're in the Phoenix area on September 1 at Casa Blanca or September 14 at the Ruby Room.

underwater getdown: hey
underwater getdown: monrovia
underwater getdown: the new asthma

official website | myspace | buy on iTunes | buy album thru PayPal

Better late than never, right? Thank goodness it's Friday. Let's start partying! Here are some nifty singles to get us in the right mood.

First, who doesn't need more cowbell? Four lads from Perth, Scotland can fill your needs.
Needs More Cowbell: I Need More Cowbell (live)
MySpace

This Arkansas band has a song co-authored by Brendan Benson and needs a drummer. Send your resumé to:
Candleblack: Disconnected
MySpace

You can't beat Olso's Massdriver for devilish and funky party music. These guys are GREAT. Find more here.
Massdriver: Brand New Car (remix)
MySpace

Seymore Saves the World and still has time to serve up a hot-hot-hot remix of "The Lake," which appears on their self-title 2007 CD.
Seymore Saves the World:The Lake DJ Kid Z Remix
They are playing lots of shows too. If you're on the west coast, in Denver, or in Minneapolis, check their tour schedule on MySpace for dates and venues.

From the blogroll:

Top of the list: I couldn't make this low-key sort-of-impromptu show in L.A. with John Vanderslice, but Aquarium Drunkard has the goods: photos and videos too. Hooray for the Internet.

Get a big ZIP file of covers from Berkeley Place. Wowza!

Cate Blanchett playing Bob Dylan? What?? Yes, according to Blogs Are For Dogs. New movie coming in November with a mind-blowing soundtrack.

Excellent review of The National's The Boxer at Can You See the Sunset From the Southside.

Howard and Beth at Lonesome Music are celebrating their blog's third birthday this week with some lonesome and lonely songs. Crash the party!

Taylor at Music For Kids has a list of good albums that unfortunately sported awful covers. I definitely concur on the Mew and Cat Power entries. See what you think.

Do you like shoegaze as much as I do? Matt at Skatterbrain left us enough for the weekend and a promise of more.

Happy weekend!

Wow...it's been a long time since I've been here. I was on vacation for a couple of weeks, and when I came back, it was to a dead computer. It was a long wait until I determined that it was actually and totally dead, and an even longer wait to get the new computer up and running. But here I am, attempting to get back to the blog. I've missed so much by not being online, and I'm behind on the music people send me and even what's going on in the blogiverse. It's great to be back, but I feel like I'm ten steps behind on everything (not that I was with the frontrunners to begin with). Here's a great band I've been missing out on sharing here:

Arwin
Chicago-based band Arwin are fresh off of the release of their excellent EP, The Bright Outside EP, and have been featured in some of our favorite blogs, such as Can You See the Sunset..., Berkeley Place and The Yellow Stereo, which is where I heard them first, quite a while back. The crew from Team Arwin were nice enough to send me a copy of their EP, and I repaid them by forgetting over and over to write about them. Arwin received a lot of praise for "Valerie, Bert, and Ernie", from the EP, but the rest of the sadly short EP is excellent.

If you're lucky enough to be in the Chicago area on August 10, check out Arwin at The Hideout. See All Things Lucid or Arwin's myspace page for more info, and check out these great songs from the EP.

arwin: valerie, bert, & ernie
arwin: bright outside

Short weeks can be the toughest, don't you think? Especially weeks where Monday is on Tuesday, so you start the week already a day behind. Finally, it's Friday.

THIS POST CONTAINS NO COPYRIGHTED CONTENT
Get Him Eat Him

Get Him Eat Him from Providence, RI, officially release their new album Arms Down on June 5, but it's available for advance download on eMusic now. As if their own five band members weren't enough, they have several members of Beirut, including Zach Condon, contributing to many tracks on this collection of sunny summer songs. Here is one to sample, and their MySpace page has a couple more.

Get Him Eat Him: 2x2

They are kicking off an extensive touring schedule from mid-June to the end of July, beginning in New York City with dates all over the U.S. and Canada, so be sure to check their MySpace page for those dates and venues.

MySpace | Website | Label: Absolutely Kosher Records
Buy at Absolutely Kosher, iTunes, and eMusic


16pac


The French electro-pop trio 16pac released a 2006 CD called Endless Work In Progress with cool songs like "Ghost World" and "The Alarm." "Letters From L.A." from their previous EP My Heart Is Full of Music features Emma's vocals singing over her reciting the same letter to a seemingly endless list of boyfriends.

16pac: The Alarm
16pac: Letters From L.A.

MySpace | Website
Buy directly from their MySpace page with PayPal or download tracks from iTunes

And if you're in Paris in the next two weeks, they'll be playing two shows:
Jun 6 2007- -9 billards, PARIS, FR
Jun 11 2007 - Union Bar, PARIS, FR


The Mandate of Heaven


I was turned on to The Mandate of Heaven by another MySpace friend, Gregg Yeti with whom they share Syracuse, NY as hometown. Mastermind/lead singer/songwriter Greg Pier was kind enough to send me these MP3s to share. Both rockers and quieter ballads like "Paper World" and "High Dragonfly" are reminiscent of beloved artists of the 80's and 90's: Weezer, Smithereens, even the Boss. And they like cats too, which is always a plus as far as I'm concerned.

The Mandate of Heaven: Sacrifice For The New Planet
The Mandate of Heaven: Apology

MySpace | Label: Noiseville Records | Buy: CD Baby and iTunes


Questions In Dialect


A couple of weeks ago a reader commented that he'd heard Questions In Dialect on KCRW's New Ground program. I looked them up and found that members Phillip Blackwell and Daniel Guaqueta of Jackson, MS are the creators of these moody, instrumental soundscapes. Their tools include unusual instruments like the martenot and theremin. QiD were also featured at Dallas' North by Southwest festival in March. They'll be getting around this month, so check out their show dates.

These tracks are from their EP The Ghost Wishes To Speak (2007):

Questions In Dialect: On This Hand
Questions In Dialect: Train No Track

MySpace | Website | Label: Esperanza Plantation
Listen: purevolume, last.fm and discrevolt
Buy at Esperanza Plantation, eMusic, and iTunes

Shows
Jun 2 2007 - Room 710, Austin, TX
Jun 3 2007 - Super Happy Fun Land, Houston, TX
Jun 8 2007 - Caffe Cottage, Lafayette, LA
Jun 16 2007 - Thirsty Hippo, Hattiesburg, MS
Jun 23 2007 - Free Expression Exposition Music and Arts Fest, Florence, MS
Jun 30 2007 - Cornerstone Festival - Gallery Stage, Bushnell, IL


Today From the Blogroll:

Audio Deficit Disorder has a mid-year Best-Of list! I am way to lazy to make a list now, but I am right with that Blonde Redhead.

Blogs Are For Dogs recaps May new releases--
while Can You See the Sunset From the Southside pulls out some classics.

Berkeley Place features tracks from Beck's first concert, 1988. Very cool!

Nathaniel at I Guess I'm Floating notes the 40th anniversary of Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts' Club Band. Jeez, how time flies.

Jefito might have to take some Peptobismol for that Chartburn, but his dialog is way too funny to miss.

Marcy at Lost In Your Inbox didn't feel like blogging today, but she did anyway. I can sympathize because I've been too sick all week to do more than watch my old home-recorded videos of "My So-Called Life."

Check out tracks by the Clientele, Beach House, and Pale Young Gentlemen at Muzzle of Bees.

Neil's Life is having a make-over. I say, go blonde and try blending that smoky eyeshadow.

PJ at The Yellow Stereo comments on discovering new music through television commercials.

And don't forget Contrast Podcast #61 where the question is HOW???

If you'd like to hear me and some excellent bloggers introduce our selected songs that mention another song, band, or artist, check out Contrast Podcast #58. This podcast is a way to discover some wonderful and obscure tunes presented in a different theme each week. The link is permanently on the sidebar under Other Music.

Now I'll showcase just a few of the fine bands that have come my way through MySpace.

Casing Static

Los Angeles' Casing Static serve up meat-and-potatoes classic rock with a big dollop of punk sass. Fierce and fuzzy!

They have quite an individual sound for a group that has had its complete line-up for less than a year.

Casing Static: Kingdom Come
Casing Static: Peddle It

MySpace | Website



Kingsbury


Kingsbury, from Winter Park, FL, cite my favorites Radiohead and Calla as influences. I'm not so sure about Radiohead, but I can sure hear Calla on "Blood In the Kitchen," and maybe there's a pinch of Interpol in there too.


They are on the road now, touring the southeast U.S. so I'll give you a little taste of a live track.

Kingsbury: This Place Is Coming (live)
Kingsbury: Blood In the Kitchen from The Great Compromise (2007)

Scheduled shows:

May 9 2007 - The Sentient Bean, Savannah, GA
May 10 2007 - The Map Room w/ The Bridges, Charleston, SC
May 11 2007 - SK Net Cafe, Charlotte, NC
May 12 2007 - Relative Theory Records, Norfolk, VA
May 13 2007 - The Luna Bean w/ The Quietline, The Mountain View, Wilson, NC
May 14 2007 - Cross Roads Coffee, Spartanburg, SC
May 16 2007 - 1982, Gainesville, FL
May 19 2007 - Florida Music Festival Showcase @ Suite B, Orlando, FL
May 27 2007 - New World Brewery, Ybor City, FL
May 31 2007 - Acoustic set @ Tatame Sake Lounge, Winter Park, FL
Jun 1 2007 - Taste w/ Tel Aviv Bats, Orlando, FL
Jul 6 2007 - Club TSI, Jacksonville, FL

MySpace | Website | Buy at Post Records



DJ Snitchin


"Hot Cookininit" is a very clever little track with lyrics made up completely of sound clips, mostly but not entirely from movies, starting off with "Ghostbusters." We should have a contest to see how many you can name.


All I can tell from MySpace about DJ Snitchin is that he has an outrageous and bizarre sense of humor. I like that in a person. More downloads are available, so click that mouse!

dj snitchin: hot cookininit

MySpace



ASBO

It's a bit intimidating how many excellent artists have come from Manchester, U.K.: Joy Division, Morrissey and the Smiths, Doves, Stone Roses, the Verve, the Buzzcocks, the Charlatans...that's just naming a few of them.

The young Manchesterites in ASBO do not put this list to shame with their basic guitar-bass-drums-vocals rock. Their sound may be closest to another of their hometown bands, Oasis.

Their MySpace page contains five downloads from a self-titled EP planned for release this year. The short but adorable "Marry Me Now" has become a favorite of mine.

ASBO: Marry Me Now
ASBO: AK-47

Scheduled shows:
May 17 2007 - Harry's Bar, Chorley
Jun 14 2007 - Dry Bar, Manchester
Jul 5 2007 - The Cavern, Liverpool

MySpace

David, Steven, and Chris of July Fourth

"I write music and sing because I have to, not because I have a choice. I started realizing that when I was most upset or excited, the feeling was made better after writing songs about it."

These are the words David Azizinamini wrote to me when I asked him for background about himself and his band July Fourth because I have been hooked on "Curtain of Stars" ever since I first heard the first notes. David is the songwriter and voice of July Fourth. From the age of seven, he wrote songs and made tapes and still writes almost every day.

Speaking of the voice--what a voice! It might fool you at first, but think of Greg Gilbert of the Delays, or Brian Molko of Placebo. That should put you in the mood to thoroughly enjoy the unique beauty of David's vocals. He takes voice lessons now to learn to use and protect it properly.

Today marks the official release of July Fourth's new EP Curtain of Stars with a concert and party at the Doubledoor in Chicago. The album artwork was done by MatAlgorithm, who has also designed artwork for San Francisco band Film School. July Fourth also released an EP in 2005 called If Dinosaurs Could See Us Now with a different lineup.

About the current band, David calls bassist Steven one of his best friends. Their drummer Chris joined them last year, and David says that despite other differences in their lives, the three of them are completely aligned musically.

David says, "I feel music so deeply that it moves me everyday. Sincerely, every day I get goosebumps over other people's work or the work we're doing. We love the music we make, we think its special, and we hope we get the opportunity some day to show the world."

I think their music is special too, and I just want to tell everyone, Listen to THIS!

July Fourth: Curtain of Stars from Curtain of Stars EP (2007) | lyrics
July Fourth: Phoenix from If Dinosaurs Could See Us Now EP (2005)

Stream "Medication" and the gorgeous "Trapped On the Tarmac" at their MySpace site.

Chicagoans can look for another live performance on May 17 at the Elbo Room.

official website | myspace

If Dinosaurs Could See Us Now EP available on itunes, and hopefully Curtain of Stars will be available there soon too.

Saturna, whose ...All Night EP I reviewed in November, are a Portland-based band who are on the make. Their first full-length album, Some Delicious Enemy, will be released in June and is already attracting a bit of buzz in the music blog universe.

Saturna's sound is a mixture of Catherine Wheel and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, both big favorites of this blog. The album opener, "Roll Down", with its slow start and explosion into a wall of sound could easily fit in on a CW album, while "Pop Rocks" with its gangly sound and plenty of cowbell, wouldn't be out of place on the first BRMC album. However, the boys put their own twist on the psychadelic, dreamy, shoegazey type-rock on Some Delicious Enemy, and the whole album is excellent.

Check out these tracks from the upcoming album Some Delicious Enemy and look out for Saturna.

saturna: roll down

saturna: pop rocks

saturna: much more

official website | band blog | myspace | buy the EP

find more on hype machine

Back in January, I showcased an EP by an Illinois-based band called The Graduate. The Horror Show EP was a quick little introduction to the band, one that I enjoyed very much. The Graduate's first full-length album, Anhedonia will be released on April 10, and the growth and maturity in sound from The Horror Show EP is immediately evident.

While The Graduate has created their own sound, I can best describe them as a more rock, less pop Jimmy Eat World. The band is primarily guitar-driven, but Anhedonia features some nice synths as well (see "Interlude"). I was pleased to see that two of the best songs from The Horror Show EP were included on Anhedonia, ("Sit & Sink", "Justified") re-recorded with very minor tinkering. I think that the band is poised to hit the big time - the music is excellent and the lyrics are insightful and deal with the universal themes of love, growing up and moving on.

Check out these tracks from Anhedonia and buy their album when it comes out tomorrow! The band has an extensive tour schedule, so check them out when they're near your town.

the graduate: justified

the graduate: better company

the graduate: sing

buy the album | buy on itunes | myspace | tour schedule

We don't call ourselves Speed of DARK for nothing--I happen to like broody, moody music. Like many people, I find darker feelings more compelling, more interesting, more complex.

These songs by two new artists are in the dark groove. I've been listening to all four of them for a couple of months now nearly every day, and my initial crush on them has held up over time. Neither of these groups has a record to sell at this point, but if they can continue to create music like this, they are people I am interested in watching--and buying when the time comes, as I hope it will.

Goldroom

The British foursome of Joe Bond (vocals, keyboards), Gareth Price (guitars), Dan Murdoch (bass), and Ross Saunders (guitars and programming) creates rich sonic landscapes, each as unique as a snowflake. Put on those headphones, close your eyes, and let them transport you to some faraway place.

"Hanoi" pulls the listener into an Eastern marketplace of swirling colors, unidentifiable objects, and strangers' faces. The song has so much texture, you can almost smell the exotic spices as the music begins to whirl around you. A flute trills, and you catch a glimpse of a slant-eyed beauty as her bangled arm passes a hand adorned with finger cymbals in front of her face, but like a figure seen from a moving vehicle, she is gone in an instant. In the midst of all the activity, you drift unnoticed and strangely apart...

Traveling on, traveling on

From one life to the next

You just end up leaving everyone behind

What have you got to say

When you're gone?

Goldroom: Hanoi

"Eyes of the Dead" would have been right at home on the soundtrack of the movie The Crow (the first one), which was an excellent set of dark, occult-themed songs. Twice during the five-plus minutes, the music is reduced to a rumbling bass that instead of feeling quiet is like a storm gathering ominous strength, then a fresh onslaught bursts onto your ears.

Goldroom: Eyes of the Dead

Visit Goldroom's myspace for brand-new offerings available for download: "Ryu," "Bongo Oddity," and "Hooligans of Doom."



The Venus In Furs



Of all the bands I've ever heard or read about that claimed Radiohead as an influence, this Atlanta-based group is the only one that actually manages to remind me of them. Adam Kiske's vocals are not an exact match for Thom's (not that I'd want them to be), but overall the interplay of Kiske's voice range and piano (keyboard) with Brent Hickman's guitar lends a Bends-like flavor to their music. Cal Wooten provides the bass, and Blaine Elliott handles the percussion.

Resembling Radiohead is a mighty task by itself, but The Venus In Furs demonstrate that they go beyond the resemblance. "Abyssal Gigantism" especially gets deliciously stuck in my head for hours.

The Venus In Furs have been in the recording studio, and they expect to have their first CD ready in May or June. I'll be looking for it.

The Venus In Furs: Abyssal Gigantism

The Venus In Furs: Tree-Legged

Visit The Venus In Furs' myspace to hear an additional track, "The Walk In." Georgia readers should watch for notices of upcoming shows in the Atlanta area.

When I think about American Idol (which isn't often, actually), I think about what a pity it is that there are so many bands and musicians, struggling to make it, that actually have talent. Not just singing other people's songs kind of talent, but the ability to play a musical instrument, or write music and/or lyrics, or to have stage presence. Just like in that Wilco song, "the best bands will never get signed," there are so many deserving musicians and bands you'll never hear, who get frustrated and fed up with the game...okay, I'll step off my soapbox now.

Anyway.

Alt-gramma and I were befriended on myspace by Desmond Reed, a college student who records on breaks from school in his bedroom at his parents' house. Desmond has been self-promoting on myspace and has already been written up in a couple of music blogs, most notably i am fuel, you are friends.

He's got a great voice and his guitar is very good too: remniscent of early Ben Gibbard minus the angst. His funny and inventive lyrics make me laugh no matter how many times I listen to them. I just think that once Desmond can pull a band together, or at least be able to devote himself more to his music, he'll go far.

When I first visited his myspace page, he had a song called "Who I'd Like to Meet", about myspace. This song is now available on the BabyBoom Records Sampler 2, released Monday, March 19. This is a great song - worth the price of the compilation CD all by itself. Check out the songs he's been gracious enough to send me, and check out the new ones available to stream on his myspace page. Watch out world, here comes Desmond.

desmond: the babysitters club

desmond: summer vacation

desmond: guinea pigs (alt-gramma's favorite)

myspace | buy the babyboom records sampler

My first post about MySpace friends had some success, so I'm doing it again. It could become kind of an irregular feature. MySpace certainly has its frustrations and limitations, but for me it is also a candyland of fine new musicians that I can actually contact.

Today I'm featuring three of those whose music I have come to enjoy immensely. I play these songs often, and I hope you'll like them too. All three have had releases within the past calendar year that are available to purchase as albums or individual songs. I think there will be more good stuff to come from each of these bands.

Mouthful of Bees

This Minneapolis foursome's CD The End, released just a month ago, offers a variety of musical styles from gale-force rockers ("Get Out") to echo-y folk ("Upon Reaching Cedar Falls, IA"), all with a solid base in the 90's alternative style that I like. Singer Chris Farstad has a kind of warbly voice that reminds me of early Talking Heads' David Byrne. Good? You betcha!

Mouthful of Bees: The Now
Mouthful of Bees: Under the Glacier

Also highly recommended: "Talking", "Sunny," "Old Gold," and "I Saw a Golden Light."

myspace | website | Buy: emusic

Upcoming appearances:
Mar 19 2007 - Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Mar 24 2007 - Walker Art Center Scavenger Hunt, Minneapolis, MN
Mar 24 2007 - Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis, MN
Apr 1 2007 - 89.3 The Current (tune in!!) - Minneapolis, MN
Apr 14 2007 - We All Have Hooks for Hands, Sioux Falls,SD
Apr 20 2007 - Off The Record-Radio K, Minneapolis, MN
Apr 21 2007 - Varsity Theatre, Minneapolis, MN



Head Like a Kite

Seattlite David Einmo was inspired by his family's home movies to write a whole album of weird songs with titles like "Your Butt Crack Smile" and "Interested in Worms?" Accented with weird bleeps and rhythms, the songs are playful and intriguing, although not all equally listenable--for example, I much prefer "Smile" to "Worms." An unknown female vocalist appears on some songs like the disturbingly titled "Tell Mommy You Want a Sip of Beer" and "Noisy At the Cirus."

Random Portraits of a Home Movie was produced by Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, The Secret Machines, Iron & Wine) and includes guest appearances by members of Smoosh, Kinski, The Posies, Crooked Fingers, Preston School of Industry, Sushirobo and others.

Amazingly, Einmo is taking this stuff on the road with Trent Moorman on drums, keys, and sampler.

Head Like a Kite: Words of a Friend
Head Like a Kite: Tell Mommy You Want a Sip of Beer

Also highly recommended: "Noisy At the Circus" and "Butt Crack Smile."


myspace | website | Buy: itunes, emusic



On tour:
Mar 30 2007 - The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA
Apr 6 2007 - Sportscenter, Yakima, WA
Apr 20 2007 - Cafe Nine, New Haven, CT
Apr 22 2007 - Contemporary Arts Center, North Adams, MA
Apr 23 2007 - Black Cat, Washington DC
Apr 24 2007 - Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA
Apr 25 2007- Carnegie Mellow University, Pittsburgh, PA
Apr 26 2007 - TBA: New York, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, New York
Apr 29 2007 - Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis, MN
May 3 2007 - Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO
May 5 2007 - Monks, Salt Lake City, UT
May 8 2007 - Cinepsace DIM MAK Party, Los Angeles (Hollywood), CA
May 10 2007 - Casbah, San Diego, CA



sharpetiquette

At first listen you might think that the bare-bones sound of this lo-fi acoustic Los Angeles act would not hold your interest very long, but you'd be dead wrong. The spare sound serves to frame some very sharp lyrics that get you hooked in much faster than you'd imagine. The Sufjan Stevens influence is apparent, and on their MySpace site you'll find a very nice cover of Death Cab For Cutie's "I'll Follow You Into the Dark." I've included some of the lyrics to "Old Eyes," which makes me think of a couple of well-known female celebrities who seem to spend most of their time screwing up their lives and getting their pictures in the tabloids.

sharpetiquette: Old Eyes

It's hard to argue with millions sold

It's hard when what you think you were told

It was only a matter of time

Ideals, they don't turn on a dime

She has old eyes, old eyes

Young face, but still it's hard to hide

She has old eyes.

Freedom isn't in the magazines

Free isn't here, only where she's been

The truth is only neatly-packaged lies

We're left to look like we're surprised

She has old eyes

Also highly recommended: "She's In My Blood" and "Don't Leave Me Hanging Here."

myspace | Buy: itunes, emusic

Rachel Williams and Max Golding of Too Dark For a Picture
It's a storyline fit for a movie script: An accidental meeting in a karaoke bar between a gifted, electro-beat boy and a pixie-faced folkie girl with a great voice. The combination of their unlikely elements sparks an exciting musical fusion. Next stop, fame and fortune?

Although the fame and fortune have not yet happened, this is the story behind Too Dark For a Picture. Rachel Williams tells me, "We met at a coffee shop in downtown Ventura (California) last year, which happened to be hosting an open mic I forced myself into at the last minute. Max was there, I had a demo on hand, and the rest was a blast." Max recalls having to lift his lower jaw up off the floor when he heard Rachel sing.

Although both Rachel and her TDFAP collaborator Max Golding are working on solo projects, that accidental meeting has led to recording nine songs together. Kind of like peanut butter falling into chocolate, the combination is something quite different than either one by themselves. Max's dance beats give Rachel's dreamy tunes a kick in the pants. Rachel's lyrics bring focus to Max's churning instrumental landscapes. Both take the other to an entirely different musical place than either thought of going.

Think: Portishead on prozac...Cat Power with drum and bass...Fiona Apple with a California glow.

Rachel and Max plan to complete their current projects before returning to TDFAP. Max is working on an album of sound perversion called Dizzy Fingers under the name of Maxwell Lewis? Yes, with the question mark. Rachel has her own solo project, Birds Fled From Me and also performs with Bedroom Eyes. Write to her on MySpace, and for $5 she'll make you a CD of five of her songs.

Meanwhile, I'm hoping for the happy ending to this story. Listen to these songs, and then try to forget them. Just try, I dare you. You'll be back.

Too Dark For a Picture: Only Dreaming

Too Dark For a Picture: Do Not Fear the Dark

Birds Fled From Me: Why I'm Not

Maxwell Lewis?: Televators (Mars Volta cover)

Too Dark For a Picture: myspace
Rachel: Birds Fled From Me myspace | Bedroom Eyes myspace
Max: Maxwell Lewis? myspace
Buy Maxwell Lewis? Scraps on itunes

One of the most enjoyable things about having this blog and a MySpace page has been meeting and making friends with fresh young bands. Today I want to acknowledge just a few of those bands as thanks for the gift of their music.

Creech Holler

Snake-waving, Mississippi-delta blues-country with a dark sound from back up in them thar hills of Tennessee and North Carolina. Lead singer Jeff Zentner (vocals, bottleneck and clawhammer electric guitar) also ventures out solo.


Creech Holler: Country Blues
Creech Holler: Wild Bill Jones

Band myspace | Jeff Zentner's myspace
Order CDs from cdbaby
Buy singles directly from Creech Holler's MySpace page, or at itunes or last.fm



On Tour Now in the southern U.S.:
Feb 16 - 9:00P - The Local w/ The Molly Maguires-Chattanooga, TN
Feb 17 - 10:00P - Murphy's-Memphis, TN
Mar 1 - 9:00P - Town Pump-Black Mountain, NC
Mar 2 - 9:00P - Green Dolphin w/ Red Clay River-Roanoke, VA
Mar 3 - 9:00P - Ireson's Pub w/ The Fury...Heat!-Bristol, TN
Mar 16 - 9:00P - Preservation Pub w/ The Darlins-Knoxville, TN
Mar 17 - 8:00P - Downhome-Johnson City, TN
Mar 30 - 9:00P - The Local w. Bathtub Gin-Chattanooga, TN
Mar 31 - 9:00P - Tidball's-Bowling Green, KY
Apr 12 - 9:00P - Caledonia's-Athens, GA
Apr 13 - 9:00P - The Loft-Vicksburg, MS
Apr 14 - Juke Joint Festival-stage and time TBA-Clarksdale, MS
Apr 14 - 9:00P - Two Stick-Oxford, MS
Apr 28 - 8:00P - Morehead Boogie Festival-Morehead, KY
May 18 - 10:00P - Preservation Pub-Knoxville, TN
May 19 - 10:00P - Murphy's-Memphis, TN
May 26 - 9:00P - The Jinx-Savannah, GA



Argo

A Seattle band that seems to still be experimenting to find their own sound. Little bit of country, little bit of electro-dance, little bit of alternative--There's something nice for every taste on Attack of the Firebots. This one is my little slice of heaven.

Argo: Alternate Ending

official website | myspace
Buy Attack of the Firebots on iTunes

Shows:
Feb 24 - 10:00P - The Skylark - Seattle, WA
Mar 17 - 8:00P - Solo - Seattle, WA
Apr 21 - 8:00P - The Sunset Tavern - Seattle, WA



Scenic Route

Any band that has a cat in its profile picture can be a friend of mine. Straightforward rock with obvious influence from Incubus from this Palmer, Massachusetts band. Look for a new album soon.

Scenic Route: Sinking Fast

website | myspace

Shows:
Feb 19 - 8:00P - Geraldines West - Springfield, MA












Lost Ocean


Fans of Keane will like the smooth harmonies of this Bakersfield, California, band.

Lost Ocean: Just Glide

website | myspace
Buy Night to Life EP on iTunes

On tour now:
Feb 16 - 7:00P - The Underground - Modesto, CA
Feb 17 - 6:30P - South Reno Baptist - Reno, NV
Feb 18 - 7:00P - New Day Foursquare - Redding, CA
Feb 20 - 8:00P - (the) Revolution - Ashland, OR
Feb 21 - 7:00P - Portland Christian Center - Portland, OR
Feb 23 - 6:00P - Calvary Chapel - Lake Stevens, WA
Feb 25 - 7:00P - Foothills Christian Church - Boise, ID
Mar 13 - 7:00P - The Alley - w/Rachel Bishop - Fullerton, CA
Mar 15 - 7:00P - The Trilogy Theatre - w/Rachel Bishop - Victorville, CA
Mar 17 - 7:00P - The Trench - w/Rachel Bishop - Merced, CA
Jul 12 - 7:00P - Sonshine Festival - Wilmar, MN
Jul 13 - 7:00P - Sonshine Festival - Wilmar, MN
Jul 14 - 7:00P - Sonshine Festival - Wilmar, MN

Ever since i guess I'm floating blog posted "Blueberry Tree Part II" last November, I've been anticipating the release of Husky Rescue's second full-length CD, Ghost Is Not Real. I've probably checked every week since the first of the year on either hype machine or the band's website or their myspace page for more songs or news of the album's release. That's how impressed I was with the beauty of that one song.

Finally the bulletin came this week that it is now available on iTunes, and I swiftly downloaded it. After all that mental build-up, I am not disappointed, even though I'm not as crazy about every song as I am about that one.

The album is nicely cohesive, both sonically and thematically. Ghosts from the past, butterflies, the place where dreams and real life blur, and journeys, predominately spiritual ones, create the gauzy fabric of this CD. "My Home Ghost" is a moody opener, great late-night listening-type stuff. "Nightless Nights" is the most upbeat and danceable of the tracks, a reminder that while Husky Rescue's home country, Finland, actually has nights lacking darkness, that darkness is still lurking and ready to come back with a vengeance. So dance while you can! "Diamonds in the Sky" are the stars that brighten even the darkest nights.

"The Blueberry Tree," Parts I, II, and III make a beautiful trio, flowing smoothly from a delicate introduction to a luscious, gooey, cooing/mewing middle, to a powerful instrumental ending. Part III starts with a train whistle, then begins chugging and slowly picking up steam until you finally arrive at the end, breathless and thoroughly satisfied.

Following that journey is another gorgeous song, "Hurricane (Don't Come Knocking)," a warning against a disastrous love affair.

I don't need you rocking my world
I don't feel like spinning around
The butterflies are frightened by your words
Terrified by silent sounds
I'm afraid to fall asleep for dreams
You belong to me
In this world, I'm for you

I'm not as fond of the spoken-word "Silent Woods" or the rap-like "Shadow Run," but others may enjoy them more.

The final journey is a track called "Caravan." The question of whether to stay or leave is accented nicely by an electronic approximation of a hawk's cry. There is a sound like a crow in another song. Pretty neat.

OK, so let's add them up: of ten songs, I like eight, and five are songs I'm really glad that I have. Ghost Is Not Real may not be in my Top 10 albums by the end of the year, but I'm pretty sure there's a favorite song in there. I'm giving it a thumbs up.

Blueberry Tree Part II
Hurricane (Don't Come Knocking)

website | myspace

One of the most promising musical discoveries I've made on MySpace is a young man named Damien DeRose who records and performs under the name of Peasant. He is a very thoughtful lyricist with a sweet voice and more than decent guitar skills.

I am most impressed with his songwriting skills, and we exchanged a couple of e-mails about one of my favorites of his songs, "Can't Believe You're Believin'." I asked about these particular lines:

These are your books
Study them carefully
These are his looks
Get used to feeling sick
And these are the ways
You get used to thinking
And this is the day
You become a number

He told me it's about watching someone you know turn into a different sort of person as they compromise their values in order to keep a social standing of some kind--maybe a job, maybe a relationship. You can't believe how they're changing into someone else, becoming bitter and beginning to hate their weakness and their lives. It's a pretty deep observation that he says he didn't really think about until after he'd written the song.

"Be Free" is another short one that I like a lot, with some lovely harmonies. "I want you to love me," he sings. He wants the house and kids, all the normal things people want...but he's smart enough to know that it needs to wait. He's not ready yet.

Peasant is in the process of getting songs together for another album in 2007. He posts new songs on his MySpace page from time to time. He recently had a new song there called "Birds" that was just delightful.

From The Wind, 7-inch vinyl (2006)
Peasant: Be Free
Peasant: Can't Believe You're Believin'

Highly recommended from Fear Not, Distant Lover (2005): Icy Deep

Upcoming live appearances:
Tomorrow: Feb 9, 2007 7:00P - Bus Stop Music Pitman, New Jersey
Feb 27, 2007 8:00P - Lit Lounge New York, New York

Watch this video of Damien playing "Manners" at CMJ 2006 to get a sense of how cool it would be to see him live.

Peasant's CDs are available on his website and his myspace page.
Fear Not, Distant Lover is also available on iTunes.

The Owls are four friends from Minneapolis, three of them songwriters, two of them librarians. Maria May and Allison LaBonne do most of the vocals as well as play guitar and keyboards and write songs. LaBonne's husband, Brian Tighe, does all that too, and he and Allinson are the librarians. John Jerry plays drums.

The Owls' music will not inspire you to leap up in the morning, energized and ready to jog a few miles before your first latte. No, their music is for lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, and wondering why you let that last doomed love into your life in the first place. It is quiet and reflective and utterly charming.

I am so drawn to these deceptively simple and low-key songs. Listen carefully to the lyrics of "Air" and you'll find a clever running stream of images, alternating between the two voices of May and LaBonne. I painstakingly played the song about 50 times to transcribe the lyrics:

No head no heart no hurry no hate no fun no muss no city no state
No card no kin no call no kiss no book no bread no hit no miss
No juice no laugh no love no sin
No hand to put my handshake in
No header no footer no girl no boy no good no better no touch no toy
There is only air
Where I used to care

"City Girl" is slower and more austere, leaving the intertwining voices to hold their own backed up only by simple piano.

Although compared to the Mamas and the Papas (not sure I agree with that one) and Belle and Sebastian (that reference is clearer), I also hear a kinship with a less-strident Aimee Mann in Maria May's conversational phrasing. The overall impression may be closer to Azure Ray.

The Owls appeared last year at South By Southwest, and they are currently working on their second CD, which is due to be released sometime in 2007. Meanwhile, there are a couple of short demos on their website to tantalize.

Air
City Girl

Upcoming shows:
Feb. 3 - House of Rock, Eau Claire, WI
Feb. 23 - 318 Cafe, Excelsior, MN
Feb. 24 - Turf Club, St. Paul, MN

The Owls': website | Buy Our Hopes and Dreams