May 172011
In a community of, let’s say, experienced rock snobs it can be daunting to step forward and proclaim enthusiasm over a new artist, record, or song, especially anything recorded by an artist who’s not yet joined the Old Guard, man, in the terms set up by the ’60s cult film Wild in the Streets. Recently, I’ve thought too long and hard about the likes of Steve Miller Band, Bad Company, and ELO. I need to revitalize my mind. Today it’s all right to come forth with the fresh goods. It’s a day to share. I ask, Who’s holding? Who’s got some new music they want to admit to having copped?
I heard this unreleased song by Jukebox Collective on BBC6 maybe a month and a half ago. Catchy as hell, with all kinds of good things going on in it, not the least of which are the lyrics. I think they have an album coming out and I’m looking forward to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyUUnaNRvyg
Also, I should put in a plug for BBC6, which is a really fantastic station.
Tahiti 80’s 2009/2010 album “Activity Center” is absolutely fabulous, in a very pop/somewhat prock/kind of garage-bubblegum kind of way. Here’s a taste:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaeG5LYM5dg
Charity and I went to see Tune-Yards at Brighton Music Hall last night, and were quite impressed. The new album, Whokill, is demonstrably influenced by a certain strain of UK post-punk–most obviously The Slits and X-Ray Spex–but she/they are doing something interesting beyond simple stylistic regurgitation.
More here:
http://www.criticalmob.com/music/more/whokill
Cool stuff so far. Keep the fresh goods coming!
I’m digging it!
I’m also telling everyone about Allo Darlin’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un4e4VN1ANE I’m going to see them in Boston very soon. I’m also trying to figure out where Lana Del Rey is going with her career, but she has an amazing voice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uKl3xeBVY4&feature=related
I have a man-crush on everything by Broken Social Scene. I can’t remember being into a band quite like this for a very long time. My like for them doesn’t make sense. 1.) they’re a “collective” yech. 2.) they use horns, double yech. 3.) they have odd song structures that don’t follow the typical rock formula. 4.) they use odd singers for some songs like Feist. But for some reason, I really like them. I saw them live when they were at the TLA — awesome show! And I even watched the concert again (twice!) online. This is my go-to music for the train, plane and in the office. (Oh, and they don’t seem too young — they’re more mature.) I’ve liked them for about 10 years — but get more into them with each new album. Let the rock bullying begin.
The newest, “New Guard” thing I’ve bought is that decidedly Old Guard Rafael Saadiq album, which attracted me for being so openly Motown in terms of song structure and backing vocals. I haven’t really blasted it yet, but I hope that when I do I won’t be bummed out by some form of stupidity in the lyrics or shallowness in the production that makes me think I should have been content with the second Fine Young Cannibals album and never wished to open the Motown box again.
There will be no Old Guard rock bullying on this day! Thanks for sharing. Who else among us is holding?
Hey, Machinery — I’m listening to “7/4 Shoreline,” and it’s great! Thanks for the tip. If I really like *this* song, will I be disappointed or surprised by the rest of their catalog? Any suggestions on where to start?
I like Mayer Hawthorne, another Motown kind of guy, doing an ELO cover here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEvu2IUjRLQ
and I love this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpfcydeSGeo
Hey, bostonhistorian — is your profile icon/avatar/whatever Mr. Toad? If so, kudos to you!
I never heard of this guy, bostonhistorian. That second song is very cool and old school!
It is Mr. Toad. Here he is full size: http://www.bookmakingwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/mr-toad.jpg
He’s got a number of things on the YouTube. Well worth checking out more….
Warpaint
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3orS1TSc_A&feature=related
Foster The People
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLK7hrRijes
Kurt Vile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90WhAqmuee0
The War on Drugs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcMIOz6Xb5A
Juston Stens & The Get Real Gang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_WA7AqoE9g
I just discovered a local band called The Hearers:
http://www.myspace.com/thehearers
It’s sort of an experimental Americana thing.Here’s a feature about their new album:
http://www.pitch.com/2011-03-31/music/in-dreamlife-the-hearers/
Thumbs up on the Kurt Vile. I also have the Warpaint but although I think “Bees” is wonderful, I’m having a hard time getting in to the rest of the album.
I bought the Wild Nothing album album at the same time and like it better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2mXIfA2xNs
That “The War On Drugs” track is very nice. I’ve been wanting to hear them.
The last disc I bought was Moon Duo’s “Mazes.” I really like it. Here’s the title track:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvYUUes4O1Q
In other news, I’m VERY excited that Cibo Matto has reformed and is touring. We already bought our tickets to see them in June. I saw them twice in the 90’s, Sean Lennon on bass at both shows. I haven’t heard any of the new tracks yet, but am going to keep my ears open for them.
ya know, if ya leave it on in your car for a week, you might find yourself diggin the whole album. it’s not obvious, it meanders, but it can creep up on ya in a good way.
The illustration to the original edition, right?
I’ve been digging the new album by Those Darlins. Their first one was a very twangy, cleanly recorded affair, but the new one sounds much more scuzzy and loose, very much like they sound live. I saw them open for The Dexateens a few uears ago, before their first album came out and I just fell in love with them. They’re funny and were very approachable and just cool people.
They just got buzz on NPR, which hopefully isn’t the kiss of Dad Rock Death because they deserve to have kids rockin’ and rollin’ at their shows. Here’s a video from the new album, Screws Get Loose. I think it’s sort of a psychedelic girl group kind of thing filtered through some bourbon and Southern sensibilities. I think they’re fun as hell!
http://youtu.be/QiyXjv1aaf8
“Fresh goods” to me at least, I finally got around to getting the most recent Tegan and Sara albums, years after being kind of wowed by the earlier single “Walking With a Ghost” found in an iTunes free sampler but not having heard more. Really digging it.
Back in Your Head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc40JX3wTaI
Hell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saO89XjJuvc
Ernest Shepard illustrated Wind in the Willows after his success with Winnie the Pooh, so I don’t think he was the original illustrator. His illustrations are without a doubt my favorites though.
Hear! Hear! on Those Darlins — hope to see them this Spring.
Jason Isbell’s Codenie is kind of cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V_vBPaI1d0
On a related note: Check out the Gram-Emmylou vibe on this new one by Carrie Rodriguez and Ben Kyle of the Minneapolis band Romantica.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iysz6oZUAcg&feature=channel_video_title
Guilty pop pleasure is Beady Eye’s The Roller — same smugness of Beach Boys’ I Get Around.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcOJu0g8dbw
I’ve been enjoying the music of The Mars Volta recently, especially their 2008 record The Bedlam in Gotham, but also their 2003 debut. The idea of prog metal sounds like one possible musical hell for many people, myself included, but barring the sometimes overly high vocals, I think the band brings something worthwhile to the table.
Digging their stuff, thanks.
you know i’ve never heard a note of their music, but i hate their look SO MUCH that i never want to. it’s not the glasses and bad ‘fros so much as it is their facial attitude. i’d rather kick the shit out of both of them than hear what they have to offer. a lame admission on my part for sure, but what safer place to make it than here in the hall!
Like kilroy, I was predisposed to hate these guys, but like mwall I’ve dug them whenever I’ve heard them. I’d especially love to see them live and see if I’d get as giddy as I’ve gotten in seeing them play live on Henry Rollins’ old show. I’ve been meaning to buy some stuff by them, but they’re not yet on eMusic, which I’ve used as a safe way of investigating a half dozen songs by bands I’m afraid to jump into whole hog.
Yes, RTH prides itself in being a safe haven for such thoughts.
My sister-in-law gave me a cd of theirs for Christmas one year. I lasted a song and a half.
They aren’t *that* new, but I’ve been liking this band, Best Coast – dreamy, fuzzy pop stuff – I can’t tell yet whether it’s an infatuation or the real thing, but I’m enjoying them right now:
http://youtu.be/_fjMYI33E8Q
http://youtu.be/q04mtNnTldY
http://youtu.be/1jGCOftbTIo
Check out the album “you forgot it in people.” Has a good breadth of what they do — rock, ambient, etc. “Looks just like the sun is on that.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFhePsWwdkw
Fronted by the daughter of one of the guys from War. She was extremely annoying in her interview on Sound Opinions.
On the Letterman clip did the Mexican guitarist ever play anything on that guitar that couldn’t have been played on a cheap bass? What was he using, one of those octave-changing stomp boxes to play those roots notes?
I don’t know what he’s using, Mod ( I thought the guy was of Asian descent). Also, I’ve never heard, seen or read any interviews, I just liked the songs on the album. To tell you the truth, I really don’t care what she’s like when she isn’t singing songs. Hey, you asked & this is what came to mind – I wasn’t *trying* to irritate you.
Maybe he was Asian, but we know who I was talking about. Their music wasn’t bad, but as you know it’s hard to keep the Bad Attitude Club at bay for too long.
Yeah, and I knew someone would bring up the guitar as bass thing. It’s odd, because I think I’ve seen other clips where he is playing a bass, so I really have no idea why he went with the guitar for that appearance. Actually, apart from that lead gal, they are fairly unsightly…I just haven’t come to a decision as to whether or not I think that’s a bad thing.
I love the drummer’s Look. It’s like she stepped off the Shaggs’ album cover!
Exactly! In some clips there’s a guy drumming, so I’m not sure if they even have a full-time drummer or what.