If you’re sick and tired of these grey skies and heavy clouds, I suggest closing your eyes, turning up the volume to a mellow 8.5, and listening to Foster The People‘s "Pumped Up Kicks". The surf guitar, drum grooves, and distant melodic synths bouncing off of echoing vocals will have you floating all the way to a warm California summertime.
Foster The People is fresh, having just formed in October of 2009. They will be putting a few songs up on iTunes in January, and are currently working on their debut. They will be playing a Wednesday night residency at The Echo starting January 19th, and then they’re heading off to Australia for a few shows in February. But don’t bother trying to stalk them on Myspace…they do things the right way by having their music solely on their website, and keeping their fans updated via twitter and facebook.
Hooray for Earth crafts a sonic galaxy of varied synthpop tunes with a rock ‘n’ roll flair on its latest EP Momo. The six celestial songs on the EP demonstrate that the band has come light-years from its Boston origins. On Momo, the band reduced the weighty, noisy drone that was pervasive on its self-titled album and Cellphone EP to welcome a lighter, mellower fare that elevates listeners to a higher plane. The euphoric “Surround By Your Friends” sets the tone of the EP with its expansive, sprightly synths and transcendent vocals that greets listeners with open arms. Although the EP is more pop-oriented than its predecessors, on “Comfortable, Comparable,” the band doesn’t pass up on the opportunity to shred and the quick turn in style works in its favor. The quartet really excels in assembling builds to fantastic, epic releases that feels like you’re racing through space, and at the end of the song, you’ve finally arrived at your destination: Earth. – Read Nancy Chow’s interview with the band here.
In just one year, Danish pop star and NYC newcomer Oh Land has seamlessly danced her way into the Brooklyn music scene. After the former Danish ballerina’s career was cut short by injury, Oh Land reignited her passion for music and instantly took to exploring the psychedelic pop rock sound that has captivated audiences and made her a hit not only in her native Denmark, but in the US as well. Her songs are laced with fairytale elements, heavy dance beats, and experimental rock, lyrically exploring the stories that have inspired both her movement and song. Oh Land’s most recent EP, the self-titled Oh Land, produced by Dave McCracken, Dan Carey and Lester Mendez is a delightful assembly of innovative sounds, haunting melodies, and quirky machines. Her video for “Sun of a Gun” has been nominated for The Best Freshman Video at mtvU, and she has been lighting up the stage throughout her northeast fall tour. A perfect blend of funk and class, the style and grace of this genetically gifted pop singer is sure to make even two left feet move right. – Read nancy Chow’s interview with Oh Land here.
It seems that everyone in their mid 20s has this fond memory of Christmas involving The Chipmunk’s Christmas album, and its high pitched rendition of O Holy Night, screeching from their parent’s hi-fi. I have nothing against rodents who choose to pursue the profession of musician, but as I’ve grown up I’d like to think my tastes have matured, albeit slightly (I like Anthony Green’s solo album… save the criticism).
So while I pretend the rain is snow, I’m listening to Tape Deck Mountain‘s EP Christmas Was A Total Bummer. Comprised of "Christmas Time Is Here Again" and "Blue Christmas", I found myself picking out the melody from the snow flurry. You can pick it up for free on Bandcamp.
Then there is, of course, He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister covering Slade’s "Merry Xmas Everybody" in a video powered by JibJab’s ElfYourself. There is just something ever so disturbing about watching your face sway around on a cartoon elf’s body but HMBSMS pulls it off. Enjoy!
A plethora of bands are lined up for your listening pleasure at Exit/In’s Clash of the Music tonight. The lineup includes the electronic indie pop of Boss of Nova, as well as Welch/Eason, the collaboration of Nashville artists Shaefer Welch and Justin Eason. This show will also be the first Nashville gig for Murfreesboro’s indie songstress Sephra, with Abbye Blythe providing backup vocals, and don’t forget alt-pop artist Kimberly Quinn, singer/songwriter Sara Beck, and indie rockers The Max. The first band is set to go on at 8 p.m., so get there early. There’s sure to be something for everyone. – Jessica Pace
Several pieces of news concerning punk/metal/rock group Look What I Did have been circulating. First off, if you haven’t heard already, they’ve been working on a new EP to be titled Zanzibar III: Analog Prison. The concept record will continue the Zanzibar storyline from their first two albums, and it will only be available on cassette and vinyl; only one song will be released digitally. Details are fuzzy as far as who will be appearing on the album, but the band has said a variety of musicians will be contributing vocal performances, and Foxy Shazam’s Eric Nally has been named as a possibility. Additionally, Look What I Did has begun filming two music videos for songs off of Atlas Drugged, their most recent release. We can expect a variety of celebrity cameos, though no names have been offered yet.
Look What I Did vocalist Barry Donegan is also working on a new music service called Gazzmic, which is designed to change how bands and fans consume music. The hows and whys of this service are unanswered at this early point in development, but you can check out their temporary site here, and musicians can apply to participate in a limited, invitation-only and free closed beta program. Interested bands can contact info@gasmic.com to request a closed beta key, and participants will be able to promote their music over a free custom mobile application platform for the iPhone and Android Market. – Jessica Pace
Since their formation, Baltimore’s Solar Temple Suicides have slowly been perfecting their own brand of drugged out, spacey haze. They preach long and tall effects-laiden, psychedelic lessons culled from ancient Yajurvedas of transformation and trial by fire, thrust from the sun to the outer edges of the universe. Their unabashed space rock tendencies and hallucinatory walls of sound drive their high volume live shows. Not fitting neatly into any extant mold, Solar Temple Suicides gather their influences together to form their own nebula.
This Saturday, STS held a release party at the Hexagon in Baltimore for their debut LP, Sentinels of the Heliosphere. It was self-recorded and produced at Studio 14 in the winter and spring of 2010, and released December 14th on Sleepy Records, with an east coast tour to follow in early 2011.
The veteran Philly power trio Stinking Lizaveta are bringing their churning instrumental rock to The Ox tonight. Stinking Lizaveta is led by the Brothers Papadopoulos on guitar (Yanni) and upright electric bass (Alexi) and fueled by the drumming of Cheshire Augusta to create a well-oiled prog-metal machine. I’m glad that they are back after hearing about the band having to drop off the DOCKtoberfest bill in Oct. due to Alexi being in a bad accident. The “doom-jazz” trio tells epic tales void of words. Since 1996, Stinking Lizaveta have been releasing searing albums including last year’s Sacrifice and Bliss. The technical proficiency of these musicians is pretty remarkable and their sound is extremely tight while remaining unhinged at the same time. One will be hard pressed to not bang their head while witnessing their ferocious live performance. The lineup gets a trippy pop twist with the addition of Buffalo Stance. Led by Jamey Robinson with help from Matt Gibson and Evan Smoker from The Extraordinaires, these dudes churn out funky, quirky tunes that have Man Man-esque eccentricities with Beck-esque swagger. Jazz experimentalists Extreme Fishkin will be rounding out the evening. This event is also a benefit show so all donations are certainly welcomed. The Ox, (you should know by now or just ask a friend), 8pm, $5, All Ages – Adam G.
Who said that indie rockers have to lower themselves to listening to crappy/useless holiday music every end of December? The Deli this year gives all discerning NYC years the opportunity to check out some deliciously noisy emerging NYC artists – at Pianos on Tuesday 12.21. Here’s the lineup with links – hope to see you there!
Put the fun back into your holiday shopping thanks to the epic return of the Philadelphia Independent Craft Market at 2424 Studios. For just $2 you’ll have the chance to do some last minute shopping for a plethora of unique jewelry, handmade soaps, knitted goods, original art, and then some. And you’ll also have the opportunity to catch a musical lineup of 5 fun local bands while enjoying free refreshments from PBR. David Sweeny & Mike Baker of The Spinning Leaves will treat you to the music of one seasoned duo, while Toy Soldiers Duo (who may be unveiling their new name Rum Rooster & the Farm) will treat you to the tunes of another. Meanwhile folk darlings Sisters 3 will be bringing their melodic tunes, and explosive blues rockers TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb will have some liquored twang for your enjoyment. Closing out the lineup will be Joe Duffey and his basement grown band of minstrels, Underwater Window Garden. 2424 Studios, 2424 E. York St., 12pm – 7pm, $2, All Ages – Bill McThrill
Live Music Schedule:
12:50pm – David Sweeny & Mike Baker (of The Spinning Leaves)
2:10pm – Sisters3
3:20pm – TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb
4:30pm – Rum Rooster and The Farm (Toy Soldiers Duo)
Tonight is the grand re-opening of J.C. Dobbs as the “Legendary Dobbs”. Back in the day, artists like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Beck have graced their stage, and now they will be starting to host bands again on their first floor Thursday – Saturday and acoustic styled acts on the second floor. Wednesdays will have music and comedy open mics. They’ll be kicking things off this evening with nostalgic industrial 90’s sounding outfit Carfax Abbey. – The Deli Staff
Nestled somewhere in the nebulous cracks between genres, The Actors’ latest EP High and Low (my first encounter with their sound) is a moving combination of heroic vocals, gentle synthesizer tones, and grooving beats. Mixed with a generous helping of reverb, High and Low is a vivacious and sincere synth-heavy pop album.
Opened by rhythmic tonal croaks amidst layers of ethereal synth melodies, High and Low gradually comes to life with the esoteric “Theory of Something.” An interesting combination of lyrics both metaphorical and grounded, “Theory of Something” builds its conclusion in charming vocal harmonies that “everything is something sometime” only to morph into a gentle grooving outro.
“Through A False Door” follows, quickly exploding in a brilliant burst of guitar hooks and voluminous synthesizer tones. Characterized by its epic atmosphere and a chugging baseline, “Through A False Door” continues to build on the previous tracks intensity with the lead singer belting out in a powerful high tenor.
With a distinct synth line and funky grind on the bottom end, all the best elements that make up High and Low come together on the albums most seductive track “First Date.” The singer is able to show off an impressive vocal range, with fantastic harmonies supporting it, while a tight knit drum and bass build a strong foundation for the more delicate synth tones to rest upon.
This probably best describes what the Actors are able to accomplish with their sound. With such epic and capacious sounds there needs to be something that grounds the listener to the moment of the song. Strong rhythmic baselines coupled with an impressive clock-like drummer fix the ears to a point while the rest of the sounds spiral about in glorious high-energy bursts and reverberations.
Catchy and sweet, High and Low is an exciting EP with plenty of space to discover sounds and hooks within the music that will certainly delight your ears. Rumor is The Actors are working on a new release. If High and Low is a herald of anything then we should expect whatever is upcoming to be just as stimulating.
