I am crazy amped about this band right now. I saw them at Black Cat last night and was just floored. They put on an amazing show, and I'd hate to have been Tokyo Police Club, trying to follow them. I barely remember TPC, but I can't get Born Ruffians out of my head. They sometimes sound similar to Vampire Weekend, but Vampire Weekend is the version of Born Ruffians that you bring home to your mom. Born ruffians are the ones that fuck you in an elevator. Ruffians were first, they're the ones you really like, and they're fucking better. Just listen.
The Black Kids started in 2007, with a breakout performance at the Athens Pop Festival in Athens, GA. Pitchfork Magazine called them one of the best new artists of the year, and that's saying something, because Pitchfork hates everything. Last year, The Black Kids toured the US with Cut Copy, and this year they are signed up to open for Kaiser Chiefs on their tour. The Black Kids make some seriously fun music, and this song, "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You," or another bouncin'-ballad from these 80's-inspired indie-kids, "Look at Me (When I Rock Wichoo)," had better be on your next party mix. I fucking love this song. And I'm sorry, but I'm not teaching him shit.
Another band from the northwest, the boys of Beulah hail from San Fransisco, CA, where they got started in 1996. Sharing a coveted spot on the Elephant 6 recording label with the likes of Apples in Stereo, Of Montreal, and Neutral Milk Hotel, Beulah didn't find success until their 2003 album release, "Yoko." Just a year later, in 2004, rumors began circulating that the band had sworn to split up if "Yoko" didn't reach gold status by the end of the year. The album didn't quite make it, and true to their word, the band announced the end. They capped off their 8 year career with a free concert in Battery Park in New York City, and then they disappeared. Here are a couple of songs from "Yoko," which is really a beautiful album, full of rattling horns, crashing cymbals, and driving piano.
"Me and Jesus Don't Talk Anymore" starts slow, and builds into a symphonic, sing-along, rock anthem: it's my favorite Beulah song, and the one that got me into them in the first place. "And though we are falling stars, we feel just fine..."
"Landslide Baby" is more mellow; an honest dialogue about that strange time when you realize that a relationship just seems to have run its course. "And I know you know I know why you won't try..."
The Maccabees. Five gents from South London who you probably haven't listened to. Shame on you. These Englishmen released their first and only album so far, "Colour It In," in May 2007. A couple of their songs bounced around the British charts in the #30-40 area, but they have yet to fully break into the American scene. Their only exposure stateside was a quick tour with Bloc Party, also in 2007, which culminated in a sold out show back across the pond in London. These guys are edgier than The Kooks, way cooler than the Arctic Monkeys, and are definite indie dance-rockers. Personally, I only know about them because two of my good friends happen to have grown up with them in London. Here's "About Your Dress."
I can't resist giving you one more. They're bloody brilliant. This one's called "Mary," and you'll be glad I added it. Cheers.
PS: Don't worry, they aren't done. Lucky for us, they are in the studio right now wrapping up their newest album, "Wall of Arms," due to drop in April.
The Mountain Goats, headed by John Darnielle, have some of the best lyrics I've heard from any band playing today. Their folky, raw, storytelling style of music has a keen ability to take you away from your life and into their world. Get away for a while with "This Year," off their album "The Sunset Tree." Step 2: go listen to everything they've ever recorded, and definitely find a live show, where you can be sure that most of the people there will sing along with every word.
Then we have the ever-lovely Emilie Mover. She isn't a household name yet, but you'll recognize the tune of her song "Ordinary Day" from what I believe is a Tide commercial. If THAT doesn't get you excited (and how could it not?), just take it from me, she has a great sound that's somewhere between Colbie Caillat and Norah Jones. Check out the playfully melancholy track "Alex," which was introduced to me by someone special. I can't find a version of the mp3 that I can embed on the site, so I'm just going to have to give you all a link for now, but seriously, click it and listen. It's not that hard. I believe in you.
There are so many good shows heading to the DC/Baltimore area that I don't know what to do with myself. I can't afford all of them, so I'm going to have to pick and choose from all the talent coming my way. I'm going to list some of the great acts that are going to be in our area for you, because I know how easy it is to miss your favorite band. Ever go to the 9:30 Club website and see the words "Just Announced" right above the words "Sold Out?" I've definitely been there. Here's a heads up for all you cool cats on what's going on in the next month or so. Tell your friends.
February 26th @ Black Cat: Tokyo Police Club w/ Born Ruffians. Do you like The Killers or Bloc Party? If so, you should probably check them out. I already have tickets to the show. See you there?
February 23rd @ 9:30 Club: Mos Def. Need I say more? Get your tickets before the second night sells out too.
February 26th @ 9:30 Club: Ben Kweller. Upbeat, fun, suburban white-kid music. If you don't already listen to his stuff, you're missing out.
February 28th @ Rams Head Live!: Michael Franti & Spearhead.
March 7th @ Black Cat: Kimya Dawson. This is the chick whose voice you'll recognize from most of the soundtrack for the movie Juno. Playful, political, and fun, Kimya Dawson is worth the $13 it'll cost you to see her.
March 23rd @ 9:30 Club: Cut Copy w/Matt & Kim. I do love Cut Copy, but the real reason I'm going to this show is to see Matt & Kim. Watch this video and see how hard it is to not love this Brooklyn dance-duo. If you only go to one show I mention, make it this one. I will definitely be at this show, and it will be the eve of my birthday; join the festivities!
So it's turning out that I may have a thing for music coming out of Portland. The more research I do about the bands I listen to, the more I realize that much of my favorite music comes from Portland, and to some extent from the Bay Area as well. This post is dedicated to M. Ward, an artist I first heard when I picked up the album "Matador at 15," marking Matador Records' 15th anniversary. I picked it up at the Barnes & Noble in Simsbury, CT, and sat in the parking lot of a movie theater, listening to it with my two best friends. This song, "Vincent O'Brien," is one of his best songs, with a soft and sweet, yet driving melody, backing some truly great lyrics. And you know I'm a sucker for lyrics...
M. Ward, known to his mom and pop as Mark Ward, performed with actress Zooey Deschanel (the cute blonde number who sings "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in the movie Elf) for a short time in a duo called She & Him. Their act was featured at the reknowned Newport Folk Festival (the old stomping grounds of our friend Bob Dylan), in August 2008. Put on the album "The Transfiguration of Vincent," close your eyes, and enjoy some very sweet dreams.
Oscar inspired me to share this with you all today, with his well-chosen post of the video to Beirut's "Elephant Gun," which you can check out at gerdner.net.
Beirut's album, "The Flying Club Cup," was released in October 2007, and a very cool website was dedicated to the videos that accompany each song on the album. Parisian indie-filmmaker Vincent Moon, in association with his website, La Blogotheque, filmed all of the videos in Brooklyn, NY. The videos are simple and charming, and emphasize the raw, orchestral, organic sound that makes Beirut one of my desert island top 5 favorite bands. Here is the video for the first track of the album. The song is called "Nantes."
Also, please listen to the song "Scenic World," off of their "Lon Gisland" EP. It's amazing.
Adam Stephens plays guitar and harmonica, backed by Tyson Vogel on drums, and their raw and beautiful sound epitomizes a sound I love in music. Two Gallants, out of San Fransisco, borrow their name from a short story by James Joyce. Check them out and fall in love with the sweet and melancholy rumble of the recording.
An amateur composer put this song together, and 90 percent of the sound in the song is directly recorded from the film "Alice in Wonderland." I find that I can't always sit through the whole video because the music and images are so hypnotic. Notice especially the feeling when the flower begins beating the drums, and the way the drums glow with each beat. The song is well done, and is very possibly making me do things at night of which I have no memory.
Theresa Andersson, raised in rural Sweden and currently living in New Orleans, is a one-woman band. Utilising lo-fi looping technology, she is able to play all instruments at once. What's amazing about Theresa is not only how she loops back each instrument perfectly, but the simple fact that she has the talent to play so many different instruments in the first place. I love her for her ingenuity, for her talent, and for being absolutely cute as hell. All credit for my being aware of her and of this song goes to my good friend, Oscar Gerdner. Please enjoy again and again.
This is a neat music-video I came across a few weeks ago. The video shows the story of a robot obsessed with humanity and with trying to be human. Sounds like some people I know.
The song is called "Duality of Deathening," by Talkdemonic. Talkdemonic, established in 2002 in Portland, OR, call their special brand of music "folktronic."
Please feel encouraged to comment on any and all my posts. Let me know what you think, what you like, what you hate, or just how you're feeling today. Hearing back from you is what makes this fun. Cheers.
I am crazy amped about this band right now. I saw them at Black Cat last night and was just floored. They put on an amazing show, and I'd hate to have been Tokyo Police Club, trying to follow them. I barely remember TPC, but I can't get Born Ruffians out of my head. They sometimes sound similar to Vampire Weekend, but Vampire Weekend is the version of Born Ruffians that you bring home to your mom. Born ruffians are the ones that fuck you in an elevator. Ruffians were first, they're the ones you really like, and they're fucking better.
