Running out of the door today but here’s a brief taste of what we have cookin’ for tomorrow (or sometime this weekend, it’s moving time after all!) – a full review of Ra Ra Riot’s new record the Orchard. Better than the Rhumb Line? A progression of the band’s sound? Or a dip into the middling territory where similar promising acts like Annuals dipped? Check in and see!
The Cannibal Cheerleader crew got a first listen (albeit a highly downgraded and low-quality one) at Interpol’s new self-titled work, and our first impressions are that the NYC foursome has readopted the realms of swirling, surrounding guitar-lines masquerading as terrific guitar licks, completely immersing the listener in swaths of dark rhythms and Banks’ snarling, haunting voice and lyrics. Beginning with the traditional push and pull of rip-roaring dance-guitar trade-offs on the likes of “Success” and “Memory Serves” the detour quickly makes itself apparent with album highlight “Lights”, moving into the “Heinrich Maneuver with more-feeling” track “Barricade”. With the swooning addition of “NARC-esque” tracks “Always Malaise” and “Safe Without” the album careens into an obscure world that Interpol has never penetrated before, beginning with “Try It On”, a tinkling piano track reminscient, if perhaps distantly of “Hands Away” if only for its stark inclusion. “All of the Ways” features Banks devoid of song structure or dynamic contrast, floating on a sea of black with only his heart-wrenching lyrics to steer him, while “The Undoing” stands as Interpol’s best closing statement since “Leif Erikson”. Overall, a smooth and wonderful effort, though we eagerly await a more polished copy for our perusal!
This a welcome surprise! Our favorite group of all time the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have released a new concert film, out today on iTunes. Entitled Yeah Yeah Yeahs Live from 02 Academy Brixton the film promises over an hour of in your face action, featuring barn-burners and smooth-sailers from the band’s already impressive catalog of mind-bending art-punk. Check out the trailer below!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Soft Shock (live at the Fox Theater)”
One of our favorite groups of all time, the Scottish mope-masters the Twilight Sad are gearing up for the release of a new 12″ EP called The Wrong Car, the title track of which you can hear over at the band’s Myspace. Featuring the increased focus on James Graham’s lyricism and morose singing voice present on Forget the Night Ahead while keeping with the wall of sound instrumentation of Fourteen Autumns the track presents a step upwards in production value without losing its indie flavor. Clocking in at over seven minutes and building to a dreary cacophony, “The Wrong Car” rests up there with “Mapped By What Surrounded Them” or “I Became a Prostitute” as one of the group’s strongest tracks. Check out the whole tracklist for the EP below.
1. “The Wrong Car”
2. “Throw Yourself In The Water Again”
3. “The Room” (Mogwai Remix)
4. “Reflection Of The Television” (Errors Remix)
The band has also recently released a live EP called The Twilight Sad Live at Lime which you can purchase over at the Limewire Store. Featuring a stripped down sound that showcases Graham’s inimitable voice it’s a must-have for die-hard fans like ourselves. Check out a sample track below.
The Twilight Sad – “Cold Days From the Birdhouse (Live at Lime)”
In a string of brand new live EPs from their Live Festival in London, iTunes has been delivering some of the freshest takes on today’s indie rock scene in recent memory, including a memorable EP by the National and their newest by Cannibal Cheerleader favorite the xx. Featuring six blistering live cuts including standout track “Night Time” and the cover “Don’t You Mind?”. Check it below and have a great weekend!
Indie-poppers extraordinaire Los Campesinos! continue on their whirlwind takeover of the world of wordy sensitive twee-rock with the release of their new EP All’s Well That Ends, which features reworked acoustic versions of four tracks from their excellent sophomore LP Romance Is Boring. These stripped down tales of loneliness (when you’re alone) and boredom (when you’re together) perfectly capture the essence of the group and highlights the strong lyrical content that truly elevates this group from all the indie-rock collective, eight-plus member bands. Songs such as “Straight In At 101/It’s Never Enough” stand among the greatest LC! has ever recorded and floats propelled by the power of the haunting, plucky instrumentation and Gareth Campesinos’ plaintive Cardiff drawl. Highly recommended, as are all the LC! recordings, pick it up immediately!
Los Campesinos! – “Romance Is Boring (Princess Version)”
Jenny & Johnny continue to crank out summery country-rock stunners with “Big Wave”, the second track to find it’s way to listeners’ ears from their upcoming I’m Having Fun Now. This track features more Lewis on lead vocals and benefits heavily from the choice, propelling itself on the power of the frontwoman’s sultry croon. Mixed with the jangling production and Rice’s hushed background vocals, the track careens and swims through a sea of guitar lines, proving to be the best song from this group thus far. Here’s hoping the full-length lives up to the promise of the singles!
Starting where her former and supremely excellent band Georgie James left off, Laura Burhenn has started anew as the Mynabirds, and in doing so has completely blown the lid off of everything that came before. Eschewing her indie-rock platitudes for a roots-rock record of searing soul and ornate harmonies, Burhenn comes across here as heir apparent to the throne of Cat Power or Jenny Lewis. In only ten short songs on her debut LP What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood operates without excess or superfluous tracks, sounding like a taut Neko Case record with gospel elements replacing the Washington songstress’ punk leanings. However, for all intents and purposes in lieu of any new Case material this year the Mynabirds debut will more than suffice, offering up every bit a Patsy Cline tribute album with fresh modern takes on soul-searing blues rock. The Mynabirds have definitely cracked into this year’s top ten, be on the lookout!
The Mynabirds – “What We Gained in the Fire”
The Magician’s Private Library remains a singular, wildly imaginative effort rewarding countless listens with its depth and longing, none of its tracks superlative or unnecessary, and operating as a complete and all-encompassing work. So for Holly Miranda to attempt to dip from this same well of inspiration, to add to this record’s legacy so soon could only be cautioned against – there exists no need to crawl the cutting room floor, to discover the extraneous snippets that could only make a record bloated and tired. But then, how to capitalize on one’s audience desire for more tracks in a similar vein? Miranda seems to have choses the logical step and takes her syrupy brand of pedal-pushing folk rock to the land of indie-rock covers.
With an artist selection ranging from David Byrne to Swans, Miranda’s keen gaze upon the varied rock landscape proves piercing, as she unearths emotion and slow-burning heat from each and every note. Remaining true to the source material in overall tone and feeling Miranda injects elements all her own, from her haunting production techniques to her bluesy, pained vocal work creating rewarding listens and beautiful takes on a series of classic tunes. Overall a fantastic listen a great stop-gap to whatever may be next on Miranda’s journey.
Holly Miranda – “God Damn the Sun (Swans cover)”
From the languid opening notes of dreamy pop trio Smoosh’s newest LP Withershins the listener is invited to a haunting and a melodic landscape care of these Death Cab debutantes, complete with carefully constructed song dynamics, slow-burn instrumentation, and some of the most heartfelt and expressive lyrics this side of a Stars album. While hearkening from a much maligned generation of teen pop stars whose sentiments and musical tastes never progressed far beyond a Fall Out Boy b-side, Smoosh explore a much richer vein of indie-rock, equal parts twee-inspired innocence and post-punk aggression, eventually arriving at an amalgamation of Pretty Girls Make Graves and Mates of State with more youthful charm. Withershins rewards continuous listens not only with the trio of sisters’ excellent musicianship but the rich production that fleshes out the autumnal tracks of longing and loss. An excellent effort from this group, looking forward to more!