Here’s two brilliant 7″ from Brooklyn based Florida.
Both put out by Shdwply Records
Florida are hard to pigeonhole, to me they sound a little like Haunted Graffiti. Check their Myspace.
- Lewis
Three albums from Washington-based experimental pop band Parenthetical Girls
(((GRRRLS)))
Safe As Houses
Entanglements
As stated before, Parenthetical Girls is a Washington-based experimental pop band. In all honesty, I really only stated listening to them because one of my favorite groups, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, covered their song “Love Connection” off of the Parenthetical Girls album (((GRRRLS))). Once I actually decided to give the original group a chance, however, my efforts were well rewarded. This album, while definitely not outlandish and borderline unlistenable, is not your typical pop album. Sure, the instrumentation is gorgeous and singer Zac Pennington (while sounding a little androgynous at times) sings beautiful stories in a haunting, quivering voice, this is more Xiu Xiu than Weezer. In fact, the best comparison to the sound of Parenthetical Girls is Xiu Xiu with a little more bells and a lot less freakouts. In fact, the song “I Broke Up (SJ)” off of Knife Play is a very good comparison, minus the parts of the song where Jamie Stewart freaks out and yells. Anyway, I’ve namedropped two really good experimental pop acts in this, and if the sheer weight carried by dropping those names doesn’t convince you to check these albums out, it’s out of my power.
-McKenna
By now, most of you have already downloaded Memory Tapes’ Seek Magic, but if you haven’t, you’re really missing out. This album has been in very heavy rotation for me over the past couple of months. It’s an elegant mix of summery dance pop that remains fresh on every listen. If you’re unfamiliar with this whole newly declared glo-fi/chillwave genre, this is a perfect starting point.
- James
So, I have received a unanimous, permanent ban from posting Get Up Kids album for the next while, so here’s something different. Seeing the Faux Pas album Max posted a few days ago got me to thinking about this band, Eux Autres. I’ve had their album for a while, and used to listen to it quite regularly, but it kind of fell on the wayside, unfortunately. I’m not really sure how that happened, because this album is actually quite good. 1/3 indie pop, 1/3 being French, and 1/3 handclaps, Hell is Eux Autres is definitely a fun, catchy band. Even though the brother/sister duo is based out of Oregon, a fair amount of the songs are either sung entirely in French or partly in French. The siblings switch vocal duties multiple times over the course of a song, all while keeping the drum beats and guitar riffs tight. The handclaps are also spread everywhere around the album without being overbearing or annoying. Basically, this is a solid indie pop/modern twee album that is definitely worth checking out if you’re into that type of stuff.
-McKenna
Sometimes I really have to restrain myself from letting my fanboy status for particular bands become too apparent on this blog. For this reason, I’m kind of hesitant to post anything by the Mountain Goats or Jawbreaker, out of fear of just writing a 1000 word article detailing how Blake Schwarzenbach’s time at NYU brought in a different East Coast flavor to Jawbreaker’s West Coast based sound.
Anyway, my fanboy status for the Get Up Kids has kind of leaked out lately, but only because they put on an amazing show when I saw them in Columbus on November 8th. They played pretty much every song I could’ve hoped for, including, if I recall correctly, every song from Something to Write Home About. Between dancing and screaming my lungs out, however, I was surprised by how much the band played from their early catalog. Sure, they played later mainstays like “Campfire Kansas”, but they also played a fair amount off of Four Minute Mile (“No Love”, “Coming Clean”, and “Don’t Hate Me” were standouts) and this EP collection. The first Get Up Kids song I can remember getting is “Mass Pike” off of this EP, and it remains my favorite Get up Kids song ever. “Mass Pike” is followed by what is, arguably, my second favorite Get Up Kids song, “Woodson”, which is, in turn, almost followed by my third favorite song, “A Newfound Interest in Massachusetts”. This entire release could be carried on these three songs, but it’s also full of other standouts that many fans probably haven’t heard, showcasing a rougher, less poppy sound than what appears on their later releases. However, this album still has a slight predisposition towards hooks and similar pop influences that would appear in later albums. Definitely a must-hear for any Get Up Kids fan.
-McKenna
P.S. If you’re wondering, the only song they didn’t play that I was disappointed about not hearing was “Like A Man Possessed”, but I’m just going to keep that small disappointment inside as much as possible.
‘Something to Write Home About’ + recording session demos
Something to Write Home About
Something to Write Home About Session Demos
On Sunday, November 8th, I will see the Get Up Kids in Columbus, Ohio. It will fulfill my youth. In all honesty, the Get Up Kids were one of the first, if not THE first band that I really loved. I can remember getting Something to Write Home About for Christmas one year from my parents and listening to it almost every morning on the bus ride to school. The young kid in me liked it just because it was fun music, while the actual album has definitely grown on me over the years. It’s definitely, on the surface, a pop album, full of radio-friendly hooks and catchy lyrics. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, I’ve found a lot of meaning in the actual songwriting, as cheesy as that sounds. This album definitely got me through some middle school-grade “hard times” and has remained a part of my library ever since. If you’ve seriously never given this album a listen, you should definitely check it out. It’s one of the best pop-punk albums I’ve ever heard. If anyone hears you listening to it and laughs at you, remember, they’re just jealous. One thing is sure though, I’m definitely going to be front and center at this show tomorrow, dancing my heart out in whatever kind of pop-punk pit pops up.
The demo recordings are seven tracks obtained via download from Vagrant with the purchase of the 10th Anniversary Edition of Something to Write Home About, along with a DVD showcasing the band in concert along with a documentary about the band.
-McKenna
Last week, I received several more emails from bands submitting their albums (3, for those of you counting!) and this was the first one I’ve heard so far. Their press release described their sound as shimmering psychedelic pop with soft, ethereal vocals set against a lush soundscape. That pretty much sums it up perfectly. This reminds me of some of that chillwave/browave/hypnagogic pop along the lines of Memory Tapes, as well as the tropical drone-party sound of Universal Studios Florida. The final track on the EP, “Everything Will Be Alright” is rapidly becoming one of my “jams.”
Note: I could not find a link to purchase the album. Check for their debut LP soon!
-Max
Two albums from the band/man iji
In Celebration
Soup or Salad
I found this album thanks to a guy a know over the internet, Teddy, who used to blog on Geroni Listening but now blogs for How To Be So Real (both are totally awesome). iji is a project of a guy named Zach from Washington. It features a rotating cast of musicians that play wonderfully lovely lo-fi pop jams full of hooks. While most lo-fi pop features similar instrumentation throughout, iji’s wide supporting cast allows for diverse experimentation, including really awesome brass sections on some songs. Another awesome aspect of iji is the male/female vocals that appear from time to time. Although I’m not sure who the girl is, she has a great voice and really adds to the songs she appears on.
Also, apparently this Zach fellow is also one of the hardest working people in the DIY scene, going on sprawling two-month tours fairly regularly. I really sincerely do hope that I can see these guys at some point, because both of these albums are irresistibly catchy and also have some incredible staying power. Check these out if you’re looking to listen to some catchy pop gems while you squeeze the last bits of glorious life out of summer and mix them with the beauty that is autumn.
-McKenna
Tonight in Columbus, local band Pheramones played with Slingshot Dakota, TacocaT, and an awesome baseball-themed band called (I think) Slugging Percentage featuring Andy of the always awesome Underdogs of Nipomo (maybe Jon, too. I couldn’t tell through the awesome mustache and the dancing). Last time I saw Pheramones play at Berea Fest IV, I’ll admit, I wasn’t that impressed. It was probably because it seemed kind of gimmicky to me at the time. This time, however, was totally different. Maybe this time I wasn’t completely exhausted or maybe because it was in a smaller space more conducive to dancing, but I had a ton of fun this time around. A two-piece playing drums and keyboard, I’m sure many people instantly connect them to Matt & Kim. They’re kind of similar, except the Pheramones, instead of playing power pop, concentrate much more on the pop and leave out a little power. This doesn’t lessen the impact of the music, however, and they can get an entire basement full of people dancing just as easily as Matt & Kim can.
Anyway, this is a split they did with fellow Columbus locals Amelia. For some reason, the download from If You Make It doesn’t include the Amelia side of the split, but that’s alright because they give out copies of the cassette for free at most of their shows. Basically, download this EP from If You Make It (check out their other awesome releases while you’re there!), listen to it, then catch this deadly duo next time they come around to your town. It’ll be worth the $5.
Donate $$$ when you download this!
-McKenna
Atom and His Package has the distinction of being their first true “punk” band I started listening to (I’m not counting Sum-41 or Good Charlotte or that stuff). I don’t remember why or how I got into it, but the simple fact is that I did and I have become the person I am today because of it. Alright, maybe that’s a little dramatic, considering this is an extremely poppy album full of synths and guitars. Basically, Atom and His Package is what it sounds like. A man named Atom (Adam Goren) playing guitar over simple, catchy beats coming out of his synthesizer (aforementioned Package). Atom’s usually esoteric songs are downright catchy, even if usually they don’t make much sense at all. Unfortunately, Atom and His Package stopped producing music in 2003, but recently played at set at The Fest last year. Here’s to holding out hope.
As an added bonus, this album includes three covers of Mountain Goats songs. “Seed Song”, “Going to Georgia”, and “Alpha Desperation March” are turned into borderline dance-punk numbers that I hope John Darnielle approves of, because they’re awesome. I kind of wonder why my younger self didn’t bother to find out the original artist of these three songs. I could’ve had an extra two years of Mountain Goats development. Oh well, that’s what my eighth grade self gets for using LimeWire.
-McKenna
I’m not claiming to be Professor Twee or anything like that, and I know I throw the word around quite liberally, but this release by a man named Harvey Williams seems to embody the essence of twee music. Fuzzy, spacey instruments played under equally fuzzy vocals make this album sound like something made recently, instead of back in the early 90’s. I know modern lo-fi rock tends to polarize people, but this album is similar to modern lo-fi and totally different from it at the same time. For one, the vocals are relatively clear kind of incredibly depressing. Songs like “Horseriding” and “I’m In Love With A Girl Who Doesn’t Know I Exist” mash together depressing lyrics, vocal pop delivery, and spaced out instrumentals to create something that you can dance to while shoegazing. It gives off a feel not entirely dissimilar to early Casiotone For The Painfully Alone with a band instead of just synths and keys. Basically, these songs are kind of perfect for Ohio Octobers. It starts getting chilly, so you wrap yourself up really tight (because you’re overreacting at first, of course) and walk to your classes while stepping on dead leaves. There’s not much other pretty stuff to look at, so you just look at your feet and walk. You walk and walk and walk until you finally get to where you’re going, at which point you take your headphones off and have to hear the ugly city noises flood back again and you wish you never had to go inside. I personally feel like this is a perfect album to do that to, just try not to get lost or anything.
-McKenna
P.S. When I went to get a link to buy the album, one of the items in the “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought” section was 24 Hour Revenge Therapy by Jawbreaker, which is the second best Jawbreaker album (after Bivouac, of course) and probably one of my Top 10 albums. It made me happy.
Sorry for the 200% increase in Math the Band posts lately, but I’ve been finding that this band is really, really good. If the Atom and His Package comparisons on the first album put you off, have no fear! This album is much more like mainstream electronic/chiptune music. The high-pitched vocals have fallen somewhat, and the lyrical content, while still being nonsensical, is much less bizarre than it was on Math the Band Banned the Math. The beats have taken a step up as well, and aren’t so lo-fi anymore. If anything, this record is more danceable than the previous one simply because it’s much more accessible to mainstream (mainstream meaning non-nerdcore based) audiences. Basically, listen to this album first, then worry about getting and liking the first one. Also, if you remember how I mentioned that this band had drawn comparisons to Andrew W.K., but didn’t see it in Math the Band Banned the Math, it’s because the Andrew W.K. sense doesn’t come in until this album. Matter of fact, this is pretty much a prefect blend between later Atom and His Package (think “I Am Downright Amazed (At What You Can Destroy With Just A Hammer)”) and Andrew W.K.’s party rock attitude.
Again Columbus folk, remember that Math the Band will be at The Summit on October 6th! It’ll probably be cheap and really fun, so come out and dance!
-McKenna
I’m seeing Broadcast perform with Atlas Sound in Columbus on October 25th so I’m trying to get an early start on their tunes. Feel free to acquaint yourself as well.
The Noise Made By People (2000)
HaHa Sound (2003)
Tender Buttons (2005)
The Future Crayon (2006)
Broadcast And The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults Of The Radio Age (2009)
- James
There are few albums that hook me as hard as Know Better Learn Faster has. I challenge you to listen to this album and refrain from tapping along-something I am failing to do as I sit in CSU’s library. Thao Nguyen describes her new album as “an undercurrent of frenzied helplessness” and that description certainly holds true in this listeners opinion, but the album is much more joyous than that statement may have you believe. The 13 songs fill your ears with folky pop glory from beginning to end.
This album is scheduled to be released by Kill Rock Stars on October 13, 2009.
- James
Incredibly fun pop music. Nothing more, nothing less.
I saw Totally Michael open for Team Robespierre/The Death Set/Ninjasonik a few months ago at the Summit in Columbus. Even with an incredibly small amount of people and a sore throat, he managed to put on one of the most fun shows I’ve ever seen. Just a one-man band, he sometimes uses a guitar, but most of the time just plays his iPod as a backing track while he sings and leaps around the crowd. Probably about the same age, if not a bit younger than most people in the crowd, he still held everyone’s attention through the entire set through a combination of between-song banter and just generally being an awesome guy. His simple, poppy beats and playful lyrics ensured that everyone was good ‘n’ sweaty by the time he ended his set. Talking to him while he was at the merch table, I got a sense that he was still kind of befuddled by this fame and was just along for the ride, similar to everyone else there. It’s that kind of sense of wonder that really makes solid pop music, no inhibitions.
-McKenna
PS: Do not listen to the song “Casual Satisfaction” while your parents/grandparents/employer are around. Just trust me on this one. It probably won’t go over well, and you’re better off safe than sorry.
