Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary

With Wolf Parade's new album "Kissing the Beehive" growing ever nearer on the horizon it seems like an appropriate time to relfect a bit on their last disc. In the fall of 2005 "Apologies to the Queen Mary" saw its release on Sub Pop records and quickly become one of my favorite albums of the year. Tipped off (and largely recorded) by the brilliant Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse Sub Pop signed the band earlier in the year with the deal also yielding a self-titled EP in July. The album offered a wide variety of musical styles running together to create an album full of sonic depth and diversity. From the bouncy and whimisical "Shine a Light" to the brooding "Modern World" the disc travels from one soundscape to the next with each subsecquent track always feeling as though they are the natural progression from the last. The album is full of piano melodies, guitar hooks & keyboard electronics creating a wonderful pallete of sounds Wolf Parade uses to create a unique foundation it will hopefully further build upon come June 17th when their second LP is released.

Los Campesinos! - You! Me! Dancing!

I was oh-so-close to posting "Death to Los Campesinos," the first single off "Hold On Now, Youngster," but seeing how I hadn't discussed Los Campesinos! yet I couldn't resist going with "You! Me! Dancing!". In my opinion it was the band's finest moment on their "Sticking Fingers Into Sockets" EP and it has been held over for the full album. The energetic indie pop band from Wales has followed two well received EPs with a debut album which along with new tracks pulls a few songs from their prior releases. The band fuses sing/shouting vocals (in case all the exclamation points didn't tip you off) with bright guitars and adventurous melodies to pace the frantic delivery of their wry lyrics: "And I'm dancing like every song who spends his bizzle...Like all my dance heroes would if they existed....And it's sad that you think that they're all just scenesters...And even if we were it's not the scene you're thinking of." The song pulls the listener in from the start with a distorted undercurrent that eventually gives way to a killer guitar hook and the opening verse. The only noticeable difference between the EP version and the album appears to be a more prominent keyboard which provides better layering to the song. The track is a great introduction to the band and hey, I'd be lying if I said I didn't love the video as well.

Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma

From the very opening of the song with its gently rolling drumming and simple keyboard strokes"Oxford Comma" exudes a casual coolness some might be surprised to find is actually not that easy to create. Vampire Weekend effortlessly do so sealing the deal when Ezra Koenig delivers "who gives a fuck about an oxford comma...i've seen those English dramas too-hoo" (emphasis on hoo) and then "why would you lie about how much coal you have? why would you lie about something dumb like that?" The track carries on in a straight-ahead manner with the lack of congestion allowing for the details to shine through: a quick melody on the keyboard or a clever bass line. The most complex moment may come on the song's frolicking guitar solo but even it is delivered in such an easy manner it blends right in with the rest of the track.
The band members all met at Columbia University and witty observations are sprinkled aplenty throughout the entire self-titled debut album. They now reside in Brooklyn (but honestly who doesn't) and describe their sound as "Upper West Side Soweto." They have been the recipient of a tremendous amount of buzz but thankfully in this case it is all well warranted.

Computer Meltdowns, Death & Taxes

ok...maybe not death...but the wires in my computer plug are a tad melted and taxes are due today so in case you haven't noticed posting has been temporarily placed on hold...it will resume again on Wednesday...my apologies

Black Keys - Strange Times

Having discussed "Salute Your Solutions" from The Raconteurs yesterday and not quite satisfying my "inner rock" it only seemed natural to move on to the Black Keys today. In reality the Black Keys have more in common with Jack White's other band both in sound and in the number of band members: 2. The irony is that it was probably the success of The White Strips that helped get these guys some attention and it may be that same success that's preventing them from sharing more of the limelight. In fact, even when I go to Amazon to check out their new (and excellent) album "Attack & Release" the number one recommendation is The Raconteurs new album "Consolers of the Lonely" (also excellent) and I bet if there was a new White Stripes album it would be listed as well. All this comparison is unfair to The Black Keys though as after five studio albums the band has put together a fine catalog music certainly worthy of its own acclaim. "Strange Times" opens with pounding drums, some cymbals and then an attention grabbing guitar riff that sucks you right into the song. The track carries on briskly except for the "strange tiiimmeess" refrain when the pace abruptly shifts down a few gears and some atmospherics seep into the song (on a side note i can't place what song this refrain reminds me of and it is driving me insane...a faster paced "She's So Heavy" by The Beatles perhaps...no don't think that is it...). The two contrasting tempos keep the song interesting and make for a great listen (the three and a half minutes seemingly go by in an instant). In addition if you have ever wondered what it would be like to bring a "real laser gun" into a game of laser tag (against children at that) then you will probably want to check out the corresponding video which is available on RYIH TV.

The Raconteurs - Salute Your Solution

It can be argued that greater creativity is generated by limiting oneself to as few options as possible. Conversely, an equally strong argument can be made that greater creativity is realized by allowing as many avenues for output as one can imagine. I don't have an answer to the puzzle, but a great case study would be The White Stripes vs The Raconteurs. It's unlikely if your reading this that I need to discuss in much detail the ways each band fits the discussed scenarios so I'll briefly summarize. Placed under limited constraints with The White Stripes (there is only so much two members can do at once), Jack White played with song stucture in order to attain his vision and in doing so carved out an unique sound for himself. With The Raconteurs White has brought the blue print he designed with the White Stripes and seems intent on building upon it. On "Salute Your Solution" the influences bleed together and the result is a relentless rock assualt. White's occasional machine-gun delivery is squared as dueling lines are sung by he and bandmate Brendan Benson. The guitars are loud and chock-full of hooks while an icky thump organ fills in any empty moments between verses keeping everything sewn together. The song is a great first single off their newly released (and announced for that matter) album "Consolers of the Lonely" and the video (comprised of 2500 still shots) can be seen on RYIH TV. Check it out.

The Dodos - Fools

Listening to San Francisco duo The Dodos can certainly keep the listener on edge. The band has the tendency to toss occasional bursts of fuzz, screams or yelps at times when one would least expect in a fashion similar to fellow contemporaries Animal Collective. What sets The Dodos apart however, is there music is comprised of mostly drumming and a floating rhythm guitar. On "Fools," pulsating drums are coupled with an easy acoustic guitar while Meric Long delivers straight ahead vocals albeit for the echo-heavy refrain where he sings "fools...fools....fools" adding a touch of breeziness to the song. A buzzing bass abruptly enters along with the aforementioned yelps and cries rounding out what would otherwise be a light-hearted pop song with a welcome roughness. Check out the video on RYIH TV...you don't want to miss Logan Kroeber stomping away at his drum kit with his tambourine-fitted shoes.
Additional songs available on their myspace page.

The Silver Seas - Imaginary Girl

The Silver Seas spent their first few years unsigned and playing under the name The Bees. Upon joining the fold of L.A.-based Cheap Lullaby in May of 2007 the band announced their intention to re-release"High Society" and change their name to The Silver Seas due to possible copyright infringement (there is a UK based band already calling themselves The Bees). Prior to their signing The Bees had been championed by some as the best unsigned band in Nashville. On "Imaginary Girl" a frolicking piano riff runs from the high to the low notes and along with an accompanying acoustic guitar provides the perfect bedding for the pleasant vocals of Daniel Tashian. The vocal melody is mildly reminiscent of a more light-hearted Morrissey, in particular The Smiths - A Boy With a Thorn In His Side, albeit with a more limited range. Along with songs such as "The Country Life" & "Ms. November" The Silver Seas seem to have produced an album full of clever song writing and soothing pop sensibilities worthy of their name.

Built to Spill - Keep it Like a Secret

My first listen to "Keep it Like a Secret" was a bit of a revelation. Having grown up listening to my father's record collection and everything else I could get my hands on I was under the assumption I had heard all of the sounds a guitar could make; and yet Doug Martsch manages to squeeze something new out of the instrument on this record. The album was criminally overlooked by many upon its 1999 release although when you remember Britney Spears was in peak form in those days you can kind of understand. After a couple albums of traditional pop songs Built to Spill had shifted their sound to more wide-open soundscapes on "Perfect From Now On" before refining and combining their influences to produce the stunning "Keep it Like a Secret." If for some unexplainable reason you make it to track #6 ("Time Trap") and have yet to recognize the genius of the album then the 2 minute instrumental intro ought to take care of that problem. The guitar sequencing is frankly some of the best I have ever heard and when I try think of anything that has topped it since it's release I'm not able. From guitar atmospherics to technical breakdowns Martsch has all of his bases covered. Roughly 1:45 into "The Plan" Martsche somehow manages to make his guitar squeal & bark in a way sure to be new to many ears. There are too many highlights on this album to cover each and every one, but the final track below "Carry the Zero", was included for its simply majestic melodies sewn together into one classic Built to Spill moment. "Keep it Like a Secret" is one of the finest albums to come out of the 90s and well worth taking that old CD player out of the closet to give it a spin if you haven't in a while.

The Walkman - The Old Revolution

Cut Copy - Unforgettable Season

On their second full length release Melbourne, Australia's Cut Copy add a new dimension to the their sound with the help of producer and DFA (LCD Sounsystem) guru Tim Goldsworthy. According to the band's bio it was Goldsworthy's ability to pinpoint every pedal used on the recording of My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless" that sealed the deal and interestingly there is some resonance of the album on "In Ghost Colours" to validate the remark. Where on their debut "Bright Like Neon Love" Cut Copy's songs were anchored by pop melodies and keyboard driven experimentation they show more of a willingness on this release to branch out by incorporating new sounds and then blanketing them with a distorted wall of noise. "Unforgettable Season" has been highlighted because it provides an excellent snapshot of a band in transition. While the first two minutes of the song revolve around a catchy melody that would not have been uncommon on "Bright Like Neon Love" (or a Cure album for that matter), the track takes an interesting detour on its final minute. The guitar adopts a shoegaze texture and though initially reigned in by a driving synth and drum rhythm, the drums eventually give way leaving only feedback to fill the vacuum.

No Age - Eraser

No Age spent much of last year tirelessly touring in support of their debut full length "Weirdo Rippers," a compilation of tracks from previously released EPs. The band is comprised of duo Randy Randall (guitar) and Dean Spunt (drums) and their sound a seamless blend of experimental art-rock and breezy California pop. Aside from putting on deafening live shows the band members also produce visual art (The Smell) and are firmly rooted in the scene in L.A. "Eraser" starts off with jangly guitar layered with a building white noise that ebbs and flows as a tambourine enters in sequence with the rhythm of the guitar. Drums briefly tease before receding and then loudly reintroducing themselves along with vocals. The song succeeds in introducing each of its components momentarily then pulling them back behind a veil and finally (saving their finest vocal melody for last) bringing it all together for a blissful raucous conclusion.

If you haven't had the pleasure of checking out their full length debut Weirdo Rippers start with these all-out rockers (Everybody's Down & My Life's Alright Without You)....you will not be let down.
All tracks available on their myspace page.