News for the ‘vermillion lies’ Category

Blood Bath Recap Pt. 4

TREASURE MAMMAL – BLOOD BATH

If you’re familiar with the Cannibal Cheerleader cult at all you’ll know we count ourselves among the biggest devotees of Phoenix’s favorite son Treasure Mammal aka Abe Gil. With experimental tendencies wrapped in electronic warbles coated in inspirational by-way-off ridiculous lyrics packaged in a hip-hop candy coating, T. Mammal defies easy definition, as his performance at our Cannibal Cheerleader Blood Bath clearly demonstrated. Blasting through some unbelievably awesome new tracks, Abe left the audience at the Peacock literally speechless.
Despite having initial difficulty getting sets for SXSW, the Treasure Mammal eventually found him self playing a half-dozen parties across Austin. We’re not sure if he survived the events of the craziest weekend in Austin, but we’ll undoubtedly be seeing more of this awesome artist soon. Check it:
Treasure Mammal – “Can You Dig It”
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VERMILLION LIES – BLOOD BATH
Another one of our favorite acts of the Blood Bath was undoubtedly Vermillion Lies, a wonderful duo out Oakland who opened the show to a small but devoted crowd and absolutely rocked the Peacock to its foundations. Playing a brand of Victorian-era inspired punk rock with a heavy dosage of bizarre instrumentation to boot (toy drums and accordions anyone?) these ladies knew how to start a party off right.
Playing to a tiny bar as if they were opening for a stadium tour, Vermillion Lies left Austin to prepare for their upcoming tour with Amanda Palmer. However, they couldn’t leave the Lone Star State without getting themselves involved in the massive pillow-fight that occurred on Sixth Street that afternoon. Definitely a crazy group, check it:

Vermillion Lies – “Circus Apocalypse” 
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SXSW LIVE REVIEW – THERMALS, CURSIVE, and THAO
Had the opportunity to check out a ton of bands at Mess With Texas on SXSW’s final day of Saturday and it turned out to be one of the best days of the whole fest. Starting with Cursive who blazed through their seminal Ugly Organ album almost start to finish and crashing through a wonderful set by CC fave Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, we knew we were in for a wonderful afternoon. After a set by the Vivian Girls (maybe a little too blog-buzzworthy for our taste at the moment) we were privvy to a set by the absolutely incredible Thermals who blazed through tracks old and new to the joy of a crowd-surfing audience below. One of the best (and hottest!) days of South by Southwest ever!
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THE HORRORS RETURN
With a blog called Cannibal Cheerleader you can imagine how enthused we are about any band that calls themselves the Horrors. Truth be told we were among the first in our small group of indie-centric friends who jumped on the group’s self-titled EP and proclaimed them as the heir-apparent of goth-rock as we know it. We still love that album and Strange House and we can say unequivocally that the video for “Sheena Is A Parasite” ranks among our top 5 of all time. 
And now, we’re getting news that the Horrors are resurrected, plucked from the grave of UK obscurity with their new album Primary Colours and it’s first single “Sea Within A Sea”. Definitely a slow-burner, clocking in at over 7 minutes, it seems the London quintet has shifted gears from the hellfire immediacy of their debut to a creepy-crawly, Zombies-by-way-of-the-Cure spookfest that sounds like a titilating ghost story rather than a slasher horror. Check it out below and count us among the group who can’t wait to hear the whole album.
Couldn’t resist this video. Comments?

The Beast Approaches

CANNIBAL CHEERLEADER BLOOD BATH SET TIMES
That’s right folks, the Cannibal Cheerleader Blood Bath, SXSW Day Party is approaching quickly and if you’re not going to be at the Peacock, 515 Pedernales in Austin, Texas this Wednesday March 18th, 12-6pm, you can rest assured you will be torn apart mercilessly. Above you’ll see our sign for the day show and below you’ll find the set times and the top ten reasons to attend the Blood Bath.

PS. It has come to our attention that the Peacock is now allowing everyone 18+ to attend the event, so if you’re over 18 but under 21 you can attend but not drink. Spread the word!

12:45pm – Vermillion Lies
1:30pm – Treasure Mammal
2:15pm – Agent Ribbons
3:00pm – Prey For Sleep
3:45pm – The Action Design
4:30pm – The Whispertown 2000
5:15pm – Rolo Tomassi

Top ten reasons to go to the Cannibal Cheerleader Blood Bath:

10. Vermillion Lies leaves to go support Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls after SXSW – Don’t you want to tell your friends you got in before they were big??

9. Treasure Mammal is a hip-hop/experimental artist and motivational speaker and in a live setting that’s every bit as cool as it sounds.

8. Agent Ribbons play Victorian punk – they didn’t even have punk back then but it would’ve been as badass as this, no doubt.

7. Prey For Sleep are following an indie punk band, so we hope a few clueless hipsters will get their faces literally ripped off for cool effect.

6. Action Design = former members of Tsunami Bomb, need we say more?

5. Whispertown 2000, the only folk-rock band with enough cajones to play the same stage as metal acts – seriously bloody indie rock.

4. First ever Rolo Tomassi performance in the United States! FIRST EVER!!

3. Issue #3 of the Cannibal Cheerleader zine available at our merch table, along with CC stickers and possible a Marnie-Stern-style kissing booth!

2. Meet your friendly Cannibal Cheerleader staff, who are way cooler than your average Austinites and can show you a better time in the ATX than 90% of these outside blogs/parties.

1. BLOOD, GUTS, AND GORE. LOTS OF IT. SERIOUSLY, FOUNTAINS.

Be there people, or be torn apart mercilessly.
Rolo Tomassi – “Fofteen”
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NEW MF DOOM ALBUM
All past transgressions are hereby forgiven, all the rumors, the poorly received live performances, it’s all in the past now that Atlanta emcee MF Doom (now apparently called DOOM, all caps son) has released BORN LIKE THIS. Seriously folks, this may just be the most consistently enjoyable Doom record since Madvillainy, and it features many of the same attributes, that is, short songs with atypical song structures and incredibly clever (not to mention extremely ill) wordplay and rhyming skills. MF Doom is back in fine form, rapping about the state of the hip-hop community, politics, and comic book characters, all in his trademark mush-mouthed, stream-of-conciousness flow. This, plus the sickest J-Dilla and MetalFingers beats this side of the Mississippi, combining bizarre instrumentation with fierce bass beats. Seriously, best hip-hop release of the year so far, no doubt at all. Definitely worth picking up and enough to put all the ’sucka emcees’ in their place, as Doom would say. Sometimes, the king of the world is also the biggest villain, check out some tracks below:

(deleted by request)
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BLOC PARTY ANNOUNCE REMIX ALBUM
According to this Stereogum post, Bloc Party will be releasing an Intimacy remix album (Intimacy Remixed) in May, mirroring their lauded Silent Alarm Remixed from back in the day. They’ve got some seriously heavy-weight remix artists contributing such as Mogwai and Phones so we’ll be looking forward to this one with great anticipation. Here is the (terrifyingly awesome and fittingly Cannibal Cheerleader) video for first single, the remix of standout track “Signs”. Definitely worth checking out, though to correct the Stereogum album that said there were no ancillary releases to A Weekend in the City – did you never get the b-side compilation album Another Weekend in the City? You’re missing out if you’ve never heard “Once and Future King”! Check it y’all:

Bloc Party – “Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix)”
Bloc Party – “The Once and Future King”

Comments? Whose coming out for the SXSW Blood Bath?

Sometimes Lie

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES INTERVIEW

New York-based, Jersey-born singer-songwriter Charlotte Sometimes defies easy explanation. A regular on last year’s Warped Tour and a favorite of Alternative Press Magazine, some might mistake her music for scenester pop or Dashboard Confessional girl edition until they actually hear the incredibly clever, insightful, and soulful creations that are her songs. Which isn’t to say that she’s too good for those crowds, more so that she takes their sonic palette and expands them into a delightfully precocious world that’s a mixture of darkly humorous alt-rock and catchy pop-hooks. Suffice to say, we are unabashed Charlotte Sometimes fans, which makes the fact that we managed to score an interview with the young singer for Cannibal Cheerleader. Here’s a sample:
CC: Describe your sound to the uninitiated. What is Charlotte Sometimes all about? What is your music’s message? 
CS: Charlotte Sometimes is a mix of dark and moody singer-songwriter chick mixed with beats, pop, and a little bit of everything. My music isn’t necessarily trying to portray any certain message, it’s just a journey through bi-polar emotions that most people can relate to.

CC: Where do you draw inspiration from? Personal experience? Or do you think of yourself more as a fictional storyteller? 

CS: I draw my inspiration from my own life and stories I create in my own crazy head. Sometimes I imagine what it would be like if a certain situation happened to me and I am pretty emotional, so it’s easy to write a song like that and feel sincere about it. But yes, I am a drama queen, I am full of stories… I probably have more than I should.

Read more of the interview at the end of the update!

Charlotte Sometimes – “Losing Sleep”
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NEW BAND CHEER: VERMILION LIES
Cannibal Cheerleader faithful have been asking us about the inclusion of Vermillion Lies on the Blood Bath 09 bill, wondering who this band is and where they’re from. If you haven’t heard yet, this Oakland duo is the new face of Victorian, burlesque punk, with a wicked sound so reminiscient of the Dresden Dolls that they’ll be opening for Amanda Palmer on her spring tour. Still, not ones to make derivative music, Vermillion Lies craft wild circus anthems that surprise and enthrall, especially during their notorious live shows. Check out a few mp3s below as well as a live video and be sure and check them out at this year’s Blood Bath 09.
Vermillion Lies – “Long Red Hair”
Vermillion Lies – “Circus Apocalypse”

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CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES INTERVIEW (CONT’D)
Here’s another chunk of the Charlotte Sometimes interview, the full version of which will be printed in our third edition of the Cannibal Cheerleader zine, available at our SXSW Day Party/Blood Bath on Wed. Mar. 18th at the Peacock here in Austin. Be there from 12-6pm or be square!

CC: Your debut album seemed to garner a lot of attention, gaining a lot of press and attention from magazine like Alternative Press and TV stations like VH1 – does the extra exposure give you validation for your art or does it put on a lot of added pressure? 

CS: No matter where I am at in my life or how I old I become, I will always put pressure on myself. Even when no one was watching me, I was still a complete perfectionist and freak about putting too much pressure on myself. It’s definitely something I’ve been trying to work on, because I put so much pressure on myself that sometimes I am unable to get anything done, because I am paralyzed with fear. BLAH BLAH… I should go see a shrink, shouldn’t I? haha

CC: When we first saw you, you were performing at the AP Mag SXSW party and you later traveled with the Warped Tour – is that an audience you identify with? Your music can hardly be described as ’screamo’, do the kids at these shows seem to connect with your soft heartfelt lyrics? 

CS: Hmmm that’s a good question. I think I am just happy with any fan that I get at this point in the game. It was a good opportunity at the time. And I’ll never say never again… because who knows?

CC: Your album Waves and the Both of Us was a stunning debut that seemed really genuine and honest. Describe to us the process behind the album, how you chose the songs that would eventually make up the album, and now, a year later, how you think it’s been received since it’s release?

CS: I basically just wrote a bunch of songs over years and kind of just put them all in one big pile and sifted through them to find the best ones. A lot of the songs were written when I graduated high school and was working on the CD, so it really reflects a lot of change, uncertainty, bad boyfriends, insecurity, and sleep issues… I am happy that the people who heard it loved or hated it. I am one of those artists you either love or hate, and I’m actually super thankful for that. At least they have an opinion.

CC: Is it difficult being on tour away from family and friends? Do you find a lot of support on the road? 

CS: Yes, it’s super hard to be away from my family and friends, but believe me when you’re home after a while… it’s a little BORING. haha. I had a great friend in my keys player who has always been there for me. He just recently got signed and I am so proud of him.

CC: What’s it like being on a label like Geffen? Is there a lot of pressure to move units? Do you have a lot of artistic leeway and freedom? 

CS: I have a lot of artistic leeway and freedom, no one has yet to tell me what to do, which I guess is a blessing and a curse. With any label comes frustration, but we don’t have to go there.

CC: What is it for an artist to ‘make it’ in today’s music world? Have you made it? 
CS: If I were to say I’ve made it, then that would be a bit of premature confidence. If you’re satisfied with where you are, then what keeps you going? I’m always going to want more for my career, because it keeps me motivated and pushing. I am thankful, blessed, and happy with how things have gone so far, but I’m anxious to keep things moving. :)

Charlotte Sometimes – “Toy Soldier”

Comments? Thanks Charlotte!

Blood Bath

CANNIBAL CHEERLEADER BLOOD BATH – SXSW PARTY

That’s right Cannibal Cheerleader faithful, this year we’ll be having our first ever South By Southwest 2009 Blood Bath/Day Party! Featuring some of our favorite bands from around the world including Rolo Tomassi, the Action Design, Prey for Sleep, Treasure Mammal, Agent Ribbons, and Vermillion Lies! 
The party takes place Wed. March 18th at the Peacock (515 Pedernales) from 12 to 5pm. We’re still working on beer sponsors and drinks, but free beverages will probably be available for some of the first attendees (and hey, $2 Lone Stars all day anyway so can’t go wrong there). More details as they come but get ready folks!
The Distillers – “Drain the Blood”
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PIECE BY PIECE: IT’S BLITZ!
We’re introducing a new feature here at Cannibal Cheerleader called Piece By Piece where we review an upcoming album track by track. This’ll be reserved for the records we’re absolutely floored by and what better album to start off with than the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs LP It’s Blitz!
1. “Zero”
Album opener “Zero” sets the tone for It’s Blitz! early on, featuring the same sexy, bloody, ferocious Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ lyrics we’re familiar with but with the added effects of layered electronics care of Nick Zinner’s vintage synth-work. Karen O’s voice is featured prominently in the mix, simaltaneously sweaty and sultry when she belts out the high notes in the bridge while still hushed and passionate when she dives into the meat of the song. The whole tune builds to a fiery finish, equal parts dancey and rock and roll, a definitively YYY experience but wholly different from anything else the band has done before.
2. “Heads Will Roll”
Beginning with soft, dreamy electronic warbles, “Heads Will Roll” quickly gains steam when Karen O’s vocals begin (”Off with you’re head!”) and Brian Chase’s drumline crackles behind the textured synths. Sounding like a combination of an Italians Do It Better alumni and a new-rave disco act, YYY have managed to take their fiery carnage to an entirely different level, combining churning dance rhythms, 80s electronics, and their signature rip-roaring guitars to massive art-rock effect. When KO shrieks “Dance ’til you’re dead!” under a mountain of swirling synths one can’t help but feel the band is back in rare form with this song. Plus c’mon “glitter on the wet streets” – pure awesomeness.
3. “Soft Shock”
The first of many left-turns on this album, the song begins with the soft-tinging of a toy xylophone and KOs soft, wordless croon. As more drums and a snakey-guitar line are added, the song stays in a low register, a fiery intensity burning underneath the surface, a sound the title of the song encapsulates perfectly. Karen O sounds wounded and pained when she begs “leave me out” and her voice never rises above a murmer, spiking only as she begs the song to soar “louder, lips speak louder”. The track builds to a passionate close of chunky guitar lines cascading over warm synths and Chase’s steady beat. A fantastic and unique track that pulls its listener further into the album’s haunting little world. 
4. “Skeletons”
Perhaps one of the most adventurous and inventive tracks the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have ever produced, “Skeletons” features hushed vintage synthesizers dashing back and forth over a sparse piano line and KO’s wounded voice poetically begging “love don’t cry/skeleton me”. The track slowly adds drum-clicks and a distant keyboard line, but never rises to rage and riot, instead containing its feriocity in the lyrics and KO’s pained lyrics. The track truly is a triumph for YYY, breaking them completely out of their comfort zone of up-against-the-wall punk to a dreamy art-rock slow burner, sounding at times almost shoegazey with thin layers wafting and drifting over each other with each passing second. The song stretches past the five-minute mark, but when it ends you’re not ready for it to be over. 
5. “Dull Life”
One of our most anticipated tracks from the album (due in no small part to the YouTube video below) “Dull Life” does more than simply meet expectations: it soars, astounding with its bombastic rhythms and wailing vocals. Starting with a patented Zinner guitar-pluck, KO softly murmers the intro for bursting into her own, followed closely by her cohorts who churn up the music accordingly. Shrieking and raging about personal ennui and situationist philosophy (layers upon layers of “oh my sooooooul!”) the YYYs burn down the house with this one, ripping and roaring through line after line of this brilliant tune. Even when the song dips its volume down into the low registers near its final breakdown, the intensity still grabs the listener by the throat, throttling with ferocious undercurrents. A standout track and one of the best YYY tunes ever.

6. “Shame and Fortune”
A return to a dancier format with this track as Karen O’s voice echoes over maracas and a distorted guitar line that powers the song alone with reckless abandon. Featuring a killer guitar riff care of Zinner, save for electronic layerings this song most resembles a classic YYY rocker, with KO wailing about “all fortune on the floor” and interspersing her cavalier growls and cries throughout the last minute of the song, which slowly lilts down to nothingness as the album wraps up. 
7. “Runaway”
Another hard-left turn as “Runaway” begins with a strikingly stark and simplistic piano line which expands only slightly as Karen O begins panting lovelorn lyrics of loss and escape over the tender notes. A smooth electronic whoosh slowly rises from the background in the second verse, and chimes dance in the background as faraway synths swirl and explode behind KO. The track builds slowly in intensity, feeling like a night-drive on a dusty road carrying one into the distance and the sun is slowly beginning to rise as the song comes to a close. As the longest song on the album “Runaway” nonetheless doesn’t overstay its welcome, remaining haunting and passionate until the end. 
8. “Dragon Queen”
Without a doubt the danciest song on the album, featuring a synth-line seemingly snatched straight from late-70s NY loft, “Dragon Queen” boasts a Glass Candy feel but with the same YYY sexuality we’ve come to expect from the band. With lyrics like “my mouth/is touching/your mouth/is running”, the song bleeds heat and drips with passion, a miniature disco hidden discreetly near the end of the album. Karen O sings in tandem with Tunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio on this track, their vocal interplay reflecting the Yeah Yeah Yeahs flirtations with experimentation on this record. This album is working wonders.
9. “Hysteric”
Speaking of flirtations, Zinner briefly tries on his dub-shoes on “Hysteric”, as his light but echo-laden guitar effects bathe Karen O in a downpour of fuzzy riffs and shoegaze pedals. Featuring a killer drum line care of Chase and whispered vocals with a hopeful push and pull about love and madness. KO simply soars on this song which features her singing range prominently, darting between her carefree shouts and her murmured croons. A wonderful song that seems to summarize a lot of the themes of the whole album.
10. “Little Shadow”
With Imaad Wasif manning the acoustic guitar duties on this incredible closing track, Karen O whispers over his tender plucking a sad but somehow hopeful track about uncertainty and bravery, following her shadow into the night (”will you follow me”). With a drum blast the electronics sweep under KO and slowly envelope her, washing over her like a wave of the blood, sweat, and tears this album is made out of. A perfect closer.
Reflecting on the whole album, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have truly been building up to this one album since their beginnings. A brutally honest and fiercely independent vision, It’s Blitz! is an art-rock triumph, showcasing a band’s willingness to step outside of their own comfort zone and go from a riotous punk act to a dream-pop band in the span of a single album. And truly, It’s Blitz is a dreamscape worth experiencing and well worth the wait. Five out of five.  
Lastly, check out this YouTube the band posted to their Myspace called “The Scientist”. I think the thing that Nick Zinner has in his briefcase is a badass synth myself. Check it:
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NEW MF DOOM TRACKS SURFACE

MF Doom (now apparently called just DOOM in all caps) has leaked a Promo sampler featuring several new tracks from his upcoming LP BORN LIKE THIS (also in all caps apparently). Barring confusing capitalization preferences, Doom is bringing his illest rhymes back in force, with the same mush-mouthed delivery and fiercely creative lyrics we’ve come to expect from the masked menace. These tracks also feature some killer J Dilla tracks from his Donuts LP, so check them out below!
Comments? Anyone a fan of the new ‘Piece by Piece’ feature? This may be my only update of the week until Friday, as I am in New York interviewing for grad school (wish me luck!). Have a great week everyone!