"Kiss" hit the blogs hard. You might be over it, but I certainly am not. It is a track good enough to tease you and get you beyond amped for the upcoming "This Fool Can Die Now" from Scout Niblett. How do you start the hype? A duet with Will Oldham of course, a man who 87% never does wrong. Niblett provides audible glue, sticking with you and sprinkling glee all over your heart.
"This Fool Can Die Now" is released in the cd/lp formats October 15th from Too Pure.
NOTE: Today's contribution comes from Matt Giordano, who actually wrote this a couple of weeks ago, before the album came out here in the states. So he had crazy cred, except I took forever to post it, thus robbing him of all possible kudos. Sorry? Fuck yeah.
It's slightly humourous that I found out about this band whilst in London two months ago, seeing as how they're from L.A. and all, but it just seems appropriate due to the fact I was surrounded by a couple of great up-and-coming designers and noise enthusiasts. To put it bluntly, No Age fucking rips, but not in the typical sense. Their songs mirror angst and drip punk ethos, yet are so well written and arranged that the listener empathises with the subject and recognises the beauty in what's being lost. Their debut compilation "Weirdo Rippers" is available on 28 August in North America (it's already been out in the UK for two months). Not only does this disc come highly recommended, but it is one of the years most fully-realized debut outputs, and that's quite an accomplishment.
Yes friends. Today is the day. I was thinking "Wednesday, a good day to continue neglecting the blog" but no. I was wrong. So here you are, the first and last track from Jens Lekman's "Night Falls Over Kortedala". It's big, it's sweet, it's pop gold.
This album is sure to make a fan out of anyone (do people still not like Jens? Are they in prison, where you cannot hear his songs?) and it's by far his most consistent to date.
"Night Falls Over Kortedala", out October 9th in the states from Secretly Canadian.
The best thing about about the upcoming self titled cd from Los Angeles foursome Health? It sounds fucking good. Recorded at the Smell, an all ages venue with vintage equipment (such as ribbon microphones used for 1930 radio broadcasts), this 11 song album will sound like pure gold through your speakers during it's near 29 minute run. While it's short and sweet, it manages to cut through the bullshit and deliver something so grand that it requires countless repeat listens.
The album tends to challenge the listener with droning beats before bursting into absolute brilliance, best seen in the dreaminess found in the middle of "// M \\" which is bookended by pounding drums before coming to it's center of goodness. Speaking of the drums, they sound beyond huge. The band, giving off hints of Lightning Bolt and Liars at times, make use of their creativity and push into noises so interesting and catchy it becomes a new form of infectious.
Rarely will you find an album that is different but flows completely throughout it's run in your cd player. This is that album, and it is highly recommended. With many high profile remixes and a tour coming to (most likely) your city this month and next, now is the time to hop on the Health bandwagon. I will bet this band will make plenty of waves soon enough.
NOTE: Today's contribution, in his first FUCK YEAH! post, comes from Matt Giordano, who clearly is enjoying his weekend off. Are you? Fuck yeah.
For my latest post I'd like to revisit one of the most influential bands of the past twenty-five years, Huey Lewis & the News. Huey and the lads are still touring these days, and what better way to move into the Labour Day week than hearing an anthem you'll be more than likely to play at that weekend's cookout most of you will be having. The News provided a generation of people with songs perfect for blasting outdoors at any type of celebration, and you'd be rocking to it with a Budweiser in hand and your Wayfarers on. Pure, classic rock'n'roll about not drunk driving, which is even more appropriate for the upcoming Labour Day weekend. Booyah.
Big Business. Big FUCKING Business. Sure, you can look at the dudes' past bands (uhhh Karp?! Murder City Devils?!) or the fact that they're in the Melvins. That's all killer on it's own but what really counts is that Big Business are a band. An awesome band.
"Here Come the Waterworks" came out earlier this year and I fear that some people may have missed it. It's a solid effort and a fantastic follow up to their debut "Head For the Shallow". Working with producer Phil Ek (Built to Spill, most everything awesome), the dudes crafted 8 songs, all brutal and catchy (tell me "Start Your Digging" doesn't have one of the best riffs you've heard in like forever).
Part of the appeal of Big Business is their attitude. The liners are full of trophy's and giant foam number one fingers. It's nice to see people who love what they do, and you get the feeling that they would listen to themselves if someone else was making these records.
But luckily, no one else is. Thank god for Big Business. Fuck yeah!
We're halfway through What You May Have Missed {week}!
You probably didn't miss this disc. It's hard not to: Marissa Nadler has shown up on countless blogs, magazines and websites. So really there's not much I can say or suggest that you haven't heard already. The most I can say is that "Songs III: Bird On the Water" is one of, if not the, best albums of the year. Maybe ever. It touches subjects like death and love, and it's all wrapped up the beautiful, haunting music and Nadler's voice. It's one of a kind.
Kemado Records (home of other rad bands like the Sword and Dungen) released this disc in the states a few weeks back and was kind enough to include a download code of 4 exclusive songs. She also showed up on Stereogum's tribute to Radiohead's "Ok Computer", covering "No Surprises". It might be the greatest cover of anything ever.
This post has been a long time coming. "Dandelion Gum" is a record that has taken many by storm, including myself and Matt and pretty much anyone I know who has heard it. Black Moth Super Rainbow have taken the world by storm in 2007, with a great album, tours with high profile bands (opening for the Flaming Lips for one) and spots on blogs and websites all over. And deservedly so: I can say in my life I have never a band quite like BMSR.
Led by vocalist/vocoder Tobacco, the songs scream of modern psychedelia. 16 songs loosely based around witches who make candy in the forest, "Dandelion Gum" begins with fluctuating synth and dreamy vocals and it will take you on a ride you've never before been on. It's great for the party or great by yourself and a glimpse into true brilliant rarely seen in pop music today.
It's a great year to be a BMSR fan. Besides the release of "Dandelion Gum", Graveface gives us 2 reissues of earlier work from the band, out in October. Look out for those.
Since there is a rare lull in releases this month, Fuck yeah! Go team! is giving you a week's worth of posts telling you what you may have missed. Some of it top 10 worthy, some of it just really good. So without further delay here is...
What you may have missed {week}
When Meg Baird's "Dear Companion" came out a couple of months ago, I realized that I need to pay attention to Drag City's upcoming releases more. It seemed to come from no where. I love Espers very much, but what Baird has created here is a cohesive lp of originals, covers and traditional standards that sound beyond timeless.
The two songs I've chosen are personal favourites from the record. While I am excited for new Espers material, I hope Baird continues to give us great albums for many years to come.
Here is a disc I've been looking forward to for a long while. I always heard good things about the Brunettes from friends who were lucky enough to see them perform during one of their rare visits to the states so I had to check them out. Sadly, having no US label, the New Zealand duo's records were near impossible to find (though I lucked out and found a used promo copy of Mars Loves Venus at Everyday Music in Portland and fell in love with it HARD). Thankfully, a couple of years ago they signed to Sub Pop and the promise of a United States release was a reality. It took awhile but here were are, August 2007, and "Structure and Cosmetics" exists in our hands!
It's a classic 9 song affair, full of so much sugary pop goodness that it's impossible to change a song. The Brunettes have plenty of fun lyrics and sing-a-longs with smart instrumentation and melodies on this album to last a lifetime. So hearing it, you'd understand that it's a challenge to choose a favourite.
But I did, and I made that choice in "Stereo (Mono Mono)". It is a great introduction to this band and in your mind to buy the lp. It has so many change ups it's like a million songs in one: they harmonize, dance from speaker to speaker and make a song about stereo and mono sexy.
Another fine offering from a great band and for Sub Pop, who's 2007 releases will stand in their history as one of their landmark years.
People love Mineral. People love the Gloria Record. Thus, people love Chris Simpson. I was always a very casual fan but I still knew Simpson was a talented songwriter and he had a bit of lightning in his bottle. I remember seeing on some website that he was doing a new thing called Zookeeper and I decided to casually check it out on the myspace. The demos there were really promising and I made a mental note to stay excited and keep my eye open for a release.
That release now exists in a self titled ep bundled up in 5 lovely songs and one awesome cover (I'm a sucker for a good photograph on your cover and Zookeeper's is simple and striking). The songs are more accessible than Simpson's past bands (if you found them hard to get into) and jangle through nicely, rarely slowing down. Just hit after hit.
This ep is a great introduction to an exciting project and I am exciting for the upcoming lp "Becoming All Things", due November 6th on Simpson's Bellecitypop label.
NOTE: Today's contribution comes from Matt Giordano, who still can't get over Laakso. It's like this with him every year they release an album. And when they don't, all he can say is "it's going to rule when Laakso releases another album". We'd yell at him, but it's true. Fuck yeah.
Two albums in the same year is quite impressive, two albums in the same week even more so. In April, Laakso's Mämmilä Rock coincided with the release of Mother Am I Good Looking, but was released only in Finland, as the bulk of the album is based in the Finnish language. This album was recorded album two years prior to its release in a cabin on the Sweden/Finland border, and therefore hearkens to more a mixture of their first two albums I Miss You I'm Pregnant and My Gods. Needless to say, it still maintains the same quality as every Laakso release, and the more music made and released by this band the better. 2007—the year of the Laakso.
X-Patriot certainly isn't Federation X's newest release, but it stands as my favourite. Maybe it's the perfect production work of Steve Albini's engineering or the fact that everyone in the band is mega-talented (with an insane drummer and the duel 4 string guitar work) or just the feel good spirit of the jams. Any or all of those really can be it, but all in all it's hard not to admit that this is Fed X's finest hour. It SOUNDS like everyone clicked, and the songs fly by with such swagger and dirt that it's impossible not to get caught in it's swarm, even from the first song's opening lines "I'm in the middle of a nervous breakdown!" in "Apeshit".
The song that I feel best represents this album is what I've chosen here today, "Real American Kids With Real American Ids". The guitar parts are so perfect yet carefree and the lyrics so confident and vocally delivered like you'd hope them to be. The best example for this band is if Karp was still around today, they'd sound like this.
Go pick up a classic (and then some more classics, since their whole catalogue is stellar), grab your lover or some bros, take a ride and enjoy your life. It's pretty fucking sweet if you're living with this as your soundtrack.
It's impossible to delve into music from Sweden and not end up finding and loving Hello Saferide. You can find a million mp3 blogs posting songs and going crazy for Annika Norlin's charming pop songs that highly impossible not to relate to.
So this is something different. This is the A side to a single released by London's Regal Records. She describes it as "a song that was both stupid and smart at the same time, in true Motown style. I think I succeeded." I think so too. Hopefully a preview of what's to come from a great songwriter.
(thanks to reader Thomas for correcting me on a bass line mistake, yikes!)
Golly, it's been awhile. I moved (and will be moving again soon) so that set me back. Oh well. Everything should be semi back in business, so enjoy this and future posts! MP3:Sam Sparro - Black & Gold
"Black & Gold", the title track from Sam Sparro's upcoming mini-lp/ep, is by far the best song I've heard this year. A true banger, it glides by your Justice's or Simian Mobile Disco's (don't get me wrong, I dig on both) by using an infectious beat, top notch production, clever lyrics and some of the best singing you'll hear, genre be damned. Sparro is a fine example of great music and his touch seems to be magical, no doubt you'll be hearing these songs and his name very, very soon. I'd suggest downloading this jam asap so you can sing it all summer and be ahead of the curve.
This release is coming from Modus Vivendi Music, but no word on when. Keep an eye on their website as much as you can, but in the meantime you can stream the whole thing at Sam Sparro's website.
The wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL blog that is Swedesplease first turned me onto Pelle Carlberg with "I Love You, You Imbecile" and I was hooked. The lp "In A Nutshell", available from everyone's favourite label Labrador has made it over here to the states thanks to Twentyseven Records (who are on quite a roll with providing us Americans great Swedish tunes). What's it sound like? Well, think Swedish pop of course. I've read early Belle & Sebastian and I can roll with that. It's definitely a light hearted and fun romp. Plus the bio on his website offers the fun fact that he "dislikes male chauvinist pigs". Who doesn't?!
IT'S BEACHWOOD SPARKS WEEK HERE AT FUCK YEAH! GO TEAM!
Here it is, the end of the week and we finally made it to what it's all about, Beachwood Sparks. Myself and Matt chose some choice jams for you to enjoy, either for a new listener or someone who was sick of seeing A) nothing or B) "By Your Side" on the mp3 blogs. Enjoy!
What really did it for me with the band was their strong melodies and harmonies. Their songs are just perfect bits of pop and hooks that it was impossible for me not to get addicted. I couldn't choose one song, so I chose one from each of the full lengths. The high points of both songs are the chorus', infectious and addicting and full of passion and adventure. It makes sense, I swear it!
Beachwood Sparks may just be the finest band of the decade. I know every time I listen to them I think just that. They did what they did so well, and "You Take The Gold" is an up tempo country number that rolls along with the ease of condensation down that glass of iced tea you're drinking on your porch right now. And seeing as how it's about the inadequacies of modern life and how the natural world should be appreciated more; and that's the sweetener.
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So there you have it. What a fun week it has been and I hope we can pull together something like this soon in the future. Thanks for checking it out! For all your Beachwood Sparks needs, feel free to order some cds and vinyl from the folks at Sub Pop and to get super detailed check out the Calming Seas. They've got it all.
As a bonus, here is a video of the band playing one of my picks, "Canyon Ride", in a backyard in Los Angeles. Damn!
IT'S BEACHWOOD SPARKS WEEK HERE AT FUCK YEAH! GO TEAM!
The sticker to the Mystic Chords of Memory's self titled lp states "the voice of the Beachwood Sparks". While everyone in that band chimed in, you will definitely hear that familiar voice of Chris Gunst when putting on their lp. The band, named after a Lincoln quote on Mount Rushmore, offers a sparse look at a talented songwriter. Their last effort, working with the DJ Nobody, added many layers and Gunst has appeared on the last 2 Dntel records. He seems to be trying many things but I do hope that if there is another MCOM lp, it will return to the roots of the first album, a near perfect effort from a near perfect songwriter.
IT'S BEACHWOOD SPARKS WEEK HERE AT FUCK YEAH! GO TEAM!
The coolest thing about Frausdots was that bassist Brent Rademaker proved that he could be a frontman. Frausdots stray the most from post-BWS in my opinion (very dark in contrast to the Sparks), but keep the same ear for melody and catchy hooks that drew us into their songwriting.
The gems are many on their debut lp "Couture, Couture, Couture", standout tracks include opener "Dead Wrong" and "The Man Who Dreaded Sundown", but the 6 minute 23 second "Broken Arrows" is the perfect example on how great this band is. Rademaker of course is a highlight, but the vocals of co-dot Michelle Loiselle really bring it on home. Her contributions sprinkled over the songs combine to make a completely cohesive lp that stands on it's own, apart from the "ashes" of a band that never ended, and was dear to many. I do love All Night Radio, but I must take Matt's statement from yesterday's post and apply it here: "I consider this record to be one of the best Sub Pop releases ever."
I think another fine showcase of the interplay between Rademaker and Loiselle is "Soft Lights", with that perfect chorus and lyrics that stick in your mind. You'll be singing "I don't want to live forever baby" to yourself and your friends for weeks on end. Maybe that's just me, but the point is it's fucking catchy.
Other than an ep and some 7 inches, the band's output has been sparse (a running theme with all of these projects), but there is always word that Frausdots will create again soon. I know I am anxiously awaiting whatever they deliver.
IT'S BEACHWOOD SPARKS WEEK HERE AT FUCK YEAH! GO TEAM! NOTE: Today's contribution to Beachwood Sparks week comes from Matt Giordano, who knows his Sparks. He once saw Farmer Dave on a subway, but said nothing because he wasn't sure if it was him or not. It was. Fuck yeah.
Choices can be tough. This one, for example was one of those. Although All Night Radio only released one full-length and a single, it's just one of those albums that's flat-out great. I consider this record to be one of the best Sub Pop releases ever, which is no surprise as it was the brainchild of two Beachwood Sparks' members. It must be fulfilling to some extent to know one can just constantly be a part of genius.
