Today's featured shit

I love Portland. It has the Original Hotcake House. There are three kinds of mass transit. It rains. There is a nickel arcade with Simpsons-themed foot bags. And I know a few bands up there, too. But are they on this compilation? No. Shows what I know.
If you like hip-hop, Luck-One and Dekk have a good one, in “The Coolax.” Dirty Mittens have a 1980s-themed Kate Bush understudy with “The Dock,” but it sounds as if they are trying too hard. There’s more to life than being in the next Mapple commercial. The end is pretty dreamy though. Stick with it for this one.
Ethan Rose & Laura Gibson must have escaped from a Flashing Red Airplane studio session to record “Sun.” It’s quite good. Rose Melberg would also be proud. Mirah? Of course I have heard of her. “Generosity” is as good as anything else she’s done. It’s a known quantity. The Thermals? Yeah, We’ve all heard of them. “You Dissolve” is fine. It will keep you warm at night.
“Las Malas” is by a Magic Johnson, but not likely that Magic Johnson. It’s in Spanish but sounds about as authentic as a burrito from Chipotle. I guess if you’re looking for Rock en Espanol, you can’t be choosy. “Grab and Glow” by Chilly Willy is an instrumental that sounds like accompaniment for an 8-bit Nintendo game. That’s supposed to be a compliment.
Ravishers sound amazing in “Keep You Around.” I want a full length of theirs on my desk by 5 o’ clock today. It’s your standard indie rock ditty with boy-girl vocals and stray strange strings and hand claps.
Dykeritz give us that late ’70s disco sound with “Chasing the Wheel Away.” Caleb Klauder gives us that country sound with “Can I Go Home With You.”
This is a 2-CD set. On the second one, we start with Jared Mees and the Grown Children. “The Tallest Building in Hell” is fun. It’s not as weird as Flaming Lips, but it has that same communal feeling to it. Let’s all sing along!
“Seasoning’s Greeting” by “What’s Up? is similar to the Chilly Willy song. Maybe it’s the Sega Genesis version. (It’s definitely too fuzzy to be the SNES version.)
Blue Skies for Black Hearts has a Britpop feel to it with “Jenny and Steve.” I guess it should be called “Portpop.” It has horns and some fun backing vocals too. Lightheaded isn’t the best lyricist but has phat beats on “Hard Rock.” I know metaphors define good skillz, but when you have to compare things to varicose veins and you’re being serious, you’re just not trying.
Lovers sing about mass transit in “Igloos for Ojos” but I don’t remember what they reference from my visits there. It must be one of those hidden routes. If She Wants Revenge had a female singer and were less serious, they would sound like this.
Blue Giant go spooky with “Target Heart.” It’s quite the ballad, even if a bit deliberate, but the intermittent piano makes me think of REO Speedwagon.
With a name like “Cootie Platoon” I knew I’d be in love, and I am! “Divided” is a super song in all ways. If you need something for when All Girl Summer Fun Band needs a break, give them a listen. True, true bliss. This is my favorite song on the comp.
“EIEIO” by Ah Holly Fam’ly seems to pay homage to the 1940s with its singing style, but the accompaniment is more abstract. It’s a good listen and makes me think of those really old Porky Pig cartoons when he was bigger and spoke less. Breakfast Mountain makes good use of the synths in “J Hollerday,” and makes me think of a cross between Sister Soleil and The Murmurs. I like this one a lot too. It’s good for playing when you’re in the shower.
Gejius do their best Daft Punk impression on “Let Down.” If you want something to dance to, it will do nicely. Tara Jane O’Neil can do no wrong in my book, and “Dig in” is no exception. There are jingle bells! Can I just marry that woman now?
Blue Cranes do jazz on “Broken Windmills.” Very throaty horns.
Portland is more than Powell’s. Even ignoring The Jolenes, The Punk Group and tons of others, they still manage to find two hours’ worth of great indie stuff.

Posted by Joel Edelman on July 14, 2009 at 12:23 am
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